Newmai News Network
Aizawl | November 14
The Mizoram government on Thursday sought help from the civil society groups and churches to fight HIV/AIDS on a war footing.
State Health minister, Dr R Lalthangliana invited leaders of the Central Committee of Young Mizo Association or Central YMA at his office chamber to discuss the high prevalence of HIV in the state, official sources said.
Three days before this, the minister also met leaders of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of major churches in Mizoram, seeking their helps to fight the menace. During his meeting with the NGO leaders, Lalthangliana expressed concern about the high prevalent of AIDS in the state, the sources said.
Though Mizoram has a good record in health index, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has accelerated at alarming rate since the last few years, the minister said.
It has been estimated that at least 9 people are found living with HIV positive in Mizoram every day, the minister said quoting the data released by National AIDS Control Organization.
Stating that the YMA would not keep itself aloof from the fight, Central YMA president Vanlalruata said that they will extend all possible helps to the government.
The meeting was also attended by officials of Mizoram Sate AIDS Control Society (MSACS).
Among others, the meeting agendas included educating people about AIDS in YMA magazines and spreading awareness among YMA members at funeral services, organizing sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS in all YMA branches within Aizawl, organizing general blood testing programmes with the help of YMA and to find out infected patients who have stopped taking ART medicine with the help of YMA.
According to MSACS project director, Dr. Lalthlengliani, nearly 2,000 people have died due to AIDS in Mizoram since the first case detection in October 1990 and a total of 19,631 HIV cases have been detected in the state till date. She also said that more than 67 per cent of HIV-positive cases were transmitted through unprotected sex, while about 28.12 per cent cases were infected through sharing needles by intravenous drug users.
Commencing from October 11, the state government has been organising sensitization programmes on AIDS in all government offices in the state capital.
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