Morung Express News
Kohima | October 12
The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) Chief, Sujatha Rao today sounded an alarm on Nagaland AIDS scenario, warning that the state is heading for a South Africa-like situation. “Situation here is similar to that of South Africa. If the spread of HIV is not checked, the state may face generation vacuum, besides severe economic and social problem”, said the Additional Secretary and Director General of NACO, while addressing the workshop on HIV/AIDS for elected representatives, secretaries, head of departments and key stake holders at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan today.
Complications in Nagaland are that the age of infection is low, rapid progression from HIV to AIDS is high, and the age of death is low, she said.
Although Nagaland is successful in reducing infection amongst the IDUs, infection through heterosexual mode has become alarming. Unlike in other states of the country where HIV/AIDS infection is mostly amongst the poor people, in Nagaland it is the middle class and well-to-do who are mostly infected through drug abuse, Sujatha also disclosed. As a consequence, the number of persons who are made pauper by the epidemic are also on the rise.
The DG also said that NACO has made certain strategies to combat the epidemic in Nagaland. This modus operandi would include focus on youths by involving community bodies like the village council, VDB, churches, peer educators, and Red Ribbon Clubs; focus on women, mainstreaming HIV in all departments with Village, apex tribal Hohos and churches as key partners; increase human resources like number of doctors and nurses, enhance number of ART Centres if need arises and through other multi-sectoral approach.
“Unlike in other states, Nagaland has a unique community strength which can be capitalized to fight the epidemic”, added Sujatha.
Sujatha, who visited Tuensang on Wednesday to get first-hand information on HIV/AIDS said that the situation there is ‘critical’, and need serious attention. She also assured to sanction one CD-4 machine for the district.
Earlier, opening remarks were made by State Chief Secretary Lalhuma, who also chaired the programme, while Dr Kumuni Kathipri, Project Director NSACS made a context-setting on HIV epidemic in Nagaland and the challenges faced in prevention, care and community support. Dr Kumuni said that despite a massive launch by departments in collaboration with NGOs, little has been achieved in changing the behaviour of the people, which is making it difficult to fight the further spread of HIV/AIDS.
However, she admitted that such change is a process which needs time though some choose to play a blame game. “In next five years we halt and reverse the epidemic” she said adding that NSACS is spending one third of its total budget on NGOs.
Dr Sundar Sundaraman, Ex- Director, AIDS Research Foundation of India spoke on the topic ‘20 years from the epidemic history and lessons from the past.’
