HIV infection decreasing in Tuensang

Tuensang had topped the list of the HIV infected people among the districts in Nagaland for many years. However, “This has changed since 2008 with the participation of Baptist Churches across the district in the HIV programs that is being undertaken by NACO/NSACS Kohima and implemented by local NGOs “, remarks N. James Chang, a social activist in Tuensang.  Out of 3644 people who volunteered for HIV testing in 2013, 145 were detected positive. This comes after Dimapur and Kohima which had 761 and 213 HIV+ respectively in the same year.

The response of the churches in Tuensang gained momentum in 2004 and their various contributions including financial support to the program has been successful and replicated in other districts. Officials coming from other states have also shown their appreciation. Over the years, all departments, agencies of both government and local bodies of the district swiftly responded and participated in controlling the spread of HIV.

There are 8 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTC) in Tuensang- two at District Hospital, Tuensang, one each at Shamator, Noklak, Thonoknyu, Longkhim & Chare and a mobile ICTC. Out of 3644 and 9139 HIV tests conducted in 2013 and 2012 in Tuensang, reports show that Mobile ICTC conducted 46% and 44% of the tests respectively. The remaining tests were done at the other 7 ICTC units.

The report showed that the Mobile ICTC Tuensang has provided Nevirapine (the only medicine available for prevention of HIV from mother to child) to 85 mothers and 83 babies from November 2007 to February 2014. It also dispatched 58 Blood Samples of children born to HIV positive mothers to a recognized laboratory (screening for HIV in children), out of which only 2 children are confirmed with HIV infection.  The remaining 56 children have not been infected by HIV from their mothers.