NACO Deputy Director General Dr. Naresh Goel (3rd from left) and Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Nagaland, I Himato Zhimomi with NSACS and NACO officials during the press conference held at Kohima on February 16. (Morung Photo)
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The eight states of northeast India will be coming together for the cause of HIV and AIDS on February 18 at Local Ground, Kohima under the banner ‘First North East Multi Media Campaign’. The event, to be hosted by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), will be held under the theme ‘North East United Against HIV and AIDS’ and will witness the participation of representatives and artistes from Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Nagaland, I Himato Zhimomi announced this at a press conference held in Hotel Japfü, Kohima on Saturday.
Multi Media Campaign is a special package provided exclusively for the northeast states since 2009 by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and is conducted every year in the states by the respective state AIDS control society to promote awareness, compassion, education and support for the issue of HIV and AIDS in the region.
Officials of the NSACS informed that the target group of the campaign is 15-24 years age group, and for the forthcoming mega regional Multi Media Campaign, students from 60 schools and 20 colleges in and around Kohima are expected to participate.
NACO Deputy Director General Dr. Naresh Goel, who was also present at the press conference, highlighted the objectives of the campaign. The campaign seeks to create a greater visibility on the issue of HIV and AIDS; encourage safe and responsible behaviour among the youth; reduce the level of stigma and discrimination by demystifying HIV and AIDS; promote HIV and AIDS related services, specially HIV testing; and also to increase general awareness about HIV and AIDS.
The participating artistes at the mega NE campaign on February 18 will include the winners of the state specific Multi Media Campaigns of 2018-19: Iuli Yeptho and the Band (Nagaland), Vanghmun 100 Yrs Band (Tripura), The Wishess (Manipur), Tyrrhenian (Assam), Jerry Lalrinawma (Mizoram), Wreckless Shadow (Meghalaya), The Megh (Arunachal Pradesh), and Roll Heads (Sikkim). The event will also feature Nagaland’s theatre and film group Dreamz Unlimited, and popular Naga musicians Nise Meruno, Alobo Naga and Tetseo Sisters. Other highlights include parade by all the eight NE states’ AIDS control societies and 16 tribes of Nagaland, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Assam Rifles and NCC, exhibition stalls on HIV and distribution of IEC materials, HIV testing facility, blood donation camps, free merchandise, photo booth etc.
