• Stresses on HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017
• 79 complaints officers designated
• Multiple modes for lodging of grievances established
Kohima, May 10 (MExN): HIV Ombudsman for Nagaland and Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Ajit Kumar Ranjan IAS on May 10 conducted a review meeting with the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) on the steps taken for dissemination of information and awareness regarding the rights of HIV affected persons under the provisions of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017.
The Act provides for safeguarding humanitarian and constitutional rights of individuals diagnosed with HIV and AIDS and aims to ensure confidentiality and privacy of HIV affected persons, non disclosure of HIV status, non discrimination besides setting up the grievance redressal system for violation of the Act and prescribes appropriate penalty, stated a press release from the HIV Ombudsman.
During the meeting held at the IDSP Hall of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, the Ombudsman also deliberated on the activities that has been carried out and suggested for more dissemination of the Act in the districts and more importantly at the sub-districts level.
It was also stated that so far 79 complaints officers have been designated by various departments and establishments under the state government in compliance with the Act to protect the HIV affected persons at the work place. The details of complaints officers are uploaded on the website of ombudsman.
Furthermore, multiple modes for lodging of complaints and grievances to the ombudsman have been established. The complaints/grievance form can be downloaded from https://nsacs.nagaland.gov.in/hiv-aids-pc-act-2017/. A person can lodge complaints by email: hivombudsman.ngl@gmail.com; or by telephone: 0370 2270047; or by post: The Ombudsman & Joint Secretary, Department Health & Family Welfare, New Civil Secretariat, Kohima – 797004, Nagaland.
Medo Kire, DD (M&E), NSACS, briefed the Ombudsman on the HIV Epidemic Profiles of Nagaland. The review meeting was attended by Project Director and Program Officers, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society.
