Our Correspondent
Mokokchung | September 11
The Network of Mokokchung District People with HIV/AIDS (NMP+), which represents the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in the district, today stressed that no individual or group should hold or organise any kind of charity events or programmes that directly relate to PLHAs without prior consultation with the PLHA’s forum, the NMP+.
The need for this move by the NMP+, after remaining silent on this matter since its inception in 2006, is clearly evident. Various groups, individuals or societies have over the years been organising events and programmes in aid of HIV/AIDS or PLHAs yet no PLHA has benefited. NMP+ cited the example of one such incident where a concert was organised by some group based on the theme ‘In aid of people living with AIDS’ but the profits of the programme hardly reached the office, the organisation in concern or the target group. “Because of such charitable events or programmes in the name of PLHAs, general public have been taxed and, not only that, it hinders some of the NMP+ programmes,” representatives of the network stated.
NMP+ president Toshi Sangpe, during an interaction with mediapersons at its office chambers here today, stated that the district administration should take note of “such exploitations and should not permit such events without prior consultation with the PLHAs forum, NMP+”. Members of NMP+ also said that it is their duty to observe seriously and analyse carefully in order to “usher the people towards the right perspective and in eradicating the selfish motives of certain people”.
It may be mentioned that a group called ‘Cosmopolitan Club’ is scheduled to organise a musical concert tonight at the Town Hall, Mokokchung, “in aid of HIV/AIDS patients” under the theme ‘Reach out – make a difference’. NMP+ today declared they expect transparency and accountability on the part of any agent or agency that may organise such events. Interestingly, this particular concert is being organised by the Club “in partnership with Care Counselling Centre and Care and Support Society”, both working in the same area as NMP+, although in different capacities.
With GIPA (Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS), which stresses to promote implementation of greater involvement of people living with HIV at all levels, and basing on the theme ‘Nothing for us without us’, NMP+ has strongly advocated consulting with the network before implementing any programme which targets to benefit the people who are infected by the virus.
The Network of Mokokchung District People with HIV/AIDS (NMP+) is a positive forum for all the PLHAs within the district of Mokokchung. It was formally formed on November 30, 2006, by ‘positive’ members with a strong vision to create a district-level PLHA community to address the challenges faced by people living with HIV.
