By - Dr. Asangba Tzudir
Nagaland, popularly known for its vibrant culture, and tagged as the land of festivals, is 'silently' facing a severe health challenge— a growing HIV/AIDS crisis. With one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the country, it has become a serious health concern. The situation is particularly alarming among youths, injecting drug users and vulnerable communities. Despite government programmes and NGO efforts, the crisis not only continues but has only deepened. And in the fight against HIV/AIDS what is clearly lacking is community based response. The lack is also a result of HIV/AIDS being treated as a moral issue rather than a health issue.
Social stigma, fear of discrimination, and moral judgment prevent people from seeking testing, counselling, or treatment. While Government interventions, such as the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and services offered by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), have played a significant role in raising awareness and providing medical support, however, such approaches often struggle to reach the grassroots. Awareness campaigns are conducted from time to time, but it needs to really bridge the gap caused by various disconnects and barriers especially the mode of communication and delivery which often limit their effectiveness. This has also led to lack of active community participation and which is necessary for any effort or initiative to be sustainable and effective.
As such, the fight against HIV/AIDS calls for moving out of clinics and into the community. Community based interventions offer a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred solution, and such approaches will greatly empower local people especially the youth, church leaders, elders, educators, and persons living with HIV towards delivering education and prevention efforts from within. However, it is a time taking process to bridge and create connections and build relationships, and which has a lot to do with the mindsets where HIV/AIDS is taken as a moral issue.
In Nagaland, where churches and tribal organisations and institutions hold much influence, their involvement can produce transformative results. Churches hold the key to help shift the dialogue of HIV/AIDS from shame to support, and then offer platforms for education, dialogue, and compassion. Youth organizations can lead peer-education programmes, where young people teach each other about safe practices, regular testing, and ‘destigmatizing’ the condition. Women’s groups can also led the way in creating greater awareness among women while dwelling on their roles and responsibilities in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
A key measure to reach people at the grassroots is for Community or village health volunteers who are trained in basic counselling and equipped with culturally sensitive tools, can go door to door in villages and urban neighbourhoods, and where they can provide information and also educate them besides building trust which can erase doubt and fear. Condoms can also be distributed which also sensitizing the importance of testing and proper treatment.
It is time for Nagaland to build a model of HIV/AIDS response that develops from within. The government and NGOs must continue to invest in training, supporting, and scaling up these community-driven initiatives. While understanding that HIV/AIDS is not a moral issue but a health issue is of paramount importance, this ‘health issue’ needs to be dealt with compassion, courage, and collective will.
Considering the precariousness of the situation, the fight against HIV/AIDS must begin in right earnest through community-based action, inclusive dialogue, and sustained commitment, which will go a long way in curbing the HIV/AIDS crisis.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for the Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
