A section of the gathering during the workshop held in the Chapel Hall, Dimapur Civil Hospital on October 28. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 28
A workshop on antiretroviral drugs (ARV) treatment literacy was held in the Chapel hall, Dimapur Civil Hospital on October 28. Jointly organised by the Nagaland Network of PLHIV (NNP+), ARK Foundation, Positive Network Dimapur (PND+) and supported by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), the workshop was attended by more than 170 people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Routine tests are important
Sensitising the gathering on the test and treat policy and the steps to initiate ART, Medical Officer, ART Plus Centre, Dimapur Civil Hospital, Dr Kikavi emphasised on the importance of routine tests in order to live a healthy and long life.
Stating that blood tests and routine tests which should be taken every six months “are not for nothing,” he added that in case they miss it, one should atleast get tested once a year.
The Government of India had passed a bill in 2017 that regardless of the CD4 count, the ARV treatment should start immediately for every person living with HIV. To this, the Medical Officer urged all the individuals not to miss taking the ART every single day at the exact time, failing which there were chances of mutation of the virus.
Further maintaining that ‘prevention is always better’ Dr Kikavi persuaded them to adhere to taking the medication regularly and be in the first line of treatment. Failure these days is especially due to failure of adherence, he added.
‘ARV is a lifelong drug’
He also assured the gathering that confidentiality is maintained in every level, and heartened them to visit the office anytime for doubts and queries. He clarified that ARV is a lifelong drug which will control the CD4 count, but cannot completely cure it, and hence, one should not think that he/she is free from the virus when the person seems healthy.
However, he also said that one not should think of it as a “death-sentence,” but that HIV is a chronic illness like any other illnesses such as suffering from hypertension or high/low sugar level, where one needs to regularly take medications.
Earlier during the workshop, DPO District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit Dimapur, Mecievinuo Zhotso explained on the importance of ART, 95-95-95, and on HIV undetectable = untransmittable, when a person starts to regularly take the ART. She said that the antiretroviral drug does not kill the HIV virus, but prevents it from multiplying and destroys the infection. Studies show that people living with HIV live much longer due to ARV than those who are not. Early detection and starting ARV immediately will lead to a good life, Zhotso added.
‘Do away with stigma’
Stating that this is one of the highest turnouts in such programmes, President of NNP+ Lanu expressed happiness to witness many people today.
Lanu, who is a person living with HIV for the last 25 years encouraged the gathering to listen with care and have all their queries met, since this programme is organised for each person present here to have their doubts and queries met without any fear and to do away with the stigma associated with it.
He then urged them to do their bit in passing on the knowledge to the community and their near and dear ones.
President of ARK Foundation, Ketho Angami also spoke on the HIV Act 2017 and addressed on the issue of co-infections. Open floor discussions were also held during the programme. Earlier, Rev Yhunlo Thong, Chaplain, Dimapur Civil Hospital prayed for the gathering and shared words of encouragement from the Bible.
Mention may be made that the workshop which is supported by NSACS began last year, cluster-wise in three districts – Dimapur, Mokokchung and Tuensang where all the neighbouring districts took part. This year, the workshop will continue in Dimapur, Tuensang and Longleng districts due to high prevalence of HIV in these three districts.
Lanu also informed that there will be a sensitisation programme which will be a conglomeration of all faiths, civil societies and youth leaders to be held in Dimapur soon.
