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Morung Express News
Kohima | October 26
HIV and AIDS has been prevalent in Nagaland since 1990 and as per the NACO HIV Estimation 2019, Nagaland has an adult prevalence rate of 1.45%.
31 years since the first case was detected amongst the injecting drug users (IDUs) by the ICMR, and despite the progress made in scientific knowledge about the disease, people living with the condition still have to undergo the social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS even today.
In the most recent case, a woman who is in her advanced state of pregnancy (8 months) was deserted by her family members and in-laws because she had tested positive for HIV.
With nowhere to go or a place to stay, she reportedly came seeking help at Kripa Foundation (KF) Drop-in centre at PR Hill, Kohima.
Confirming this news, Kripa Foundation Director, Abou Mere said the staff of KF took her to the Social Welfare department which has arranged a temporary refuge for the woman.
Speaking to The Morung Express, Social Welfare Director Michael Zaren said the woman has been referred to SAKHI One-Stop Centre which has arranged a temporary stay for the woman for five days. After the five days, he said a permanent arrangement has to be made for her to stay.
Stigma and discriminationtowards PLHIVs still prevalent
Expressing concern not only for the woman but for the unborn baby, Mere said there have been many cases of stigma and discrimination towards People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) who become vulnerable, homeless and are deprived of justice.
He also cited cases where family members come seeking help to find permanent refuge of their orphaned wards.
This paper had earlier reported similar case of a five-year-old orphan boy from Mokokchung district who had contracted HIV from his parents and was abandoned by his family members, while his two HIV free brothers were adopted.
These incidences serve as a reminder of how, despite continuous awareness campaigns, the society still stigmatizes and discriminates PLHIVs.
Despite the high positivity rate of HIV, the Nagaland government had abruptly disbanded the Legislative Forum on AIDS (LFA), and the government is yet to appoint an HIV and AIDS Ombudsman even after more than three years since the commencement of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act 2017.
As per the 2017 Act, the Ombudsman is to redress grievances of people living with HIV and AIDS “the Ombudsman shall upon a complaint made by any person, inquire into the violations of the provisions of this Act, in relation to acts of discrimination and providing health care services by any persons. Further, in case of medical emergency of HIV positive person, the Ombudsman shall pass such order as soon as possible, preferable within 24 hours of the receipt of the complaint.
Taking cognizance of the same, the Kohima Bench, Gauhati High Court has directed the Nagaland state government to appoint or designate a qualified person as the HIV and AIDS Ombudsman as per Rule-4 of the Nagaland Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Ombudsman and Legal Proceeding) Rules 2019, within a period of 45 days from October 18.
