Minister Health and Family Welfare, P Paiwang Konyak launching the ‘Health on bikes’ at the State Council on AIDS held in Kohima on June 6.
KOHIMA, JUNE 6 (MExN): The State Council on AIDS was conducted on June 6 under the chairmanship of the P. Paiwang Konyak, Minister Health and Family Welfare in Kohima.
The meeting was attended by representative from the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Higher and Technical Education, Rural Development, Transport, Labour and Employment, Social Welfare, Law and Justice, School Education and SCERT.
The main objectives of holding the State Council on AIDS (SCA) meeting were to provide policy direction to the HIV & AIDS programme in the state, to mainstream HIV & AIDS in all departments by considering it as a development challenge and not merely a public health problem and to have a multi-sectoral response to HIV & AIDS in the state in partnership with civil society organizations, industry and donors. 
The first body of the State Council on AIDS was formed on June 11, 2008 under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Nagaland. Two meetings have been conducted since then on April 29, 2009 & October 12, 2012.
The State Council on AIDS was reconstituted on June 22, 2023 with the Minister of Health & Family Welfare as chairman and this is the first meeting of the re-constituted SCA.
During the meeting, Konyak emphasized the critical need to address drug use and addiction in the state and proposed the inclusion of the Home Department in the SCA for better coordination and support. 
He stressed the importance of early HIV testing and detection among pregnant mothers to initiate timely treatment and protect newborns from HIV.
Konyak encouraged leveraging social media platforms and influencers for widespread dissemination of HIV awareness messages. He also assured that the SCA will have its regular meeting from time to time to provide political and administrative support at the highest level for HIV/AIDS response in the state.
Dr Ahu Sekhose, Project Director of NSACS, highlighted the ongoing HIV prevention and control activities in the state. He mentioned the initiatives under the National AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which has signed MoUs with 18 departments at the Ministry level.
In Nagaland, NSACS has rolled out MoUs with 12 departments, working closely with them to meet state-specific needs and requirements. Dr Bernice D Thapru, Joint Director (Prevention), NSACS, provided an overview of the HIV and AIDS program in the state.
The meeting also underscored the need to initiate specific social protection schemes and benefits for people living with HIV in Nagaland. The concluding remark was given by Renabomo Odyuo, NCS, Joint Secretary, H&FW.
The meeting was followed by launching of ‘Health on Bikes, reaching the unreached’ by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare. Seven (7) bikes, which were launched, are meant for 7 districts-Mon, Shamator, Kiphire, Zunheboto, Phek, Wokha and Peren, to provide comprehensive service packages in difficult areas to fast-track the achievement of the three 95s.
