Wokha DPDB reviews HIV & drug use data, plans health campaign

Wokha, June 22 (MExN): Wokha District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting was held under the chairmanship of DPDB Chairman and Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall on June 21. 

The meeting was attended by Advisor for Agriculture, Government of Nagaland, Mhathung Yanthan, MLA Mhonbemo Humtsoe, Vice Chairman and Deputy Commissioner, Vineet Kumar IAS and Heads of various departments, stated a DIPR report.

A presentation was made by District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), led by Programme Officer. The presentation provided an overview of the types of drug users and HIV & AIDS data collected from district and block levels. The data was illustrated through maps to depict the distribution of drug users across the district.  

DAPCU proposed an Integrated Health Campaign (IHC) across selected colonies and villages in Wokha district. The objective is to identify individuals reactive for HIV & AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C, and refer them for confirmatory testing. Identified cases will be linked with treatment services at appropriate health facilities.  
The campaign will also integrate Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) to reach underserved populations, National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) screenings, and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings. Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers will be engaged for community mobilisation, antenatal care outreach, and general awareness. The presentation highlighted various operational challenges faced by DAPCU in implementing these interventions, stated the DIPR report. 

A comprehensive presentation on Viksit Nagaland for Viksit Bharat@2047 was delivered by Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar, IAS. He outlined the state's vision and priorities under national development schemes such as JAM Trinity, Digital India, Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, GST, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Startup India, and Stand Up India.

Nagaland’s economic potential and key challenges highlighted 
The DC Wokha presented timelines and rankings of Nagaland in various national indices, emphasising the state’s potential through resources like oil and gas, fertile soil, rich natural biodiversity, a tech-savvy and skilled youth population, and its strategic geographic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

He also detailed Nagaland’s economic trajectory, indicating a structural shift from the primary sector to an increasing contribution from the tertiary sector to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

However, he noted challenges such as high expenditure on salaries, pensions, and interest payments; unique land ownership systems; power deficits; weak law and order in certain areas; poor digital and physical connectivity; limited revenue from excise due to prohibition; and low credit flow.

He identified key economic drivers for the state’s growth, including urbanisation, tourism, creative industries, agriculture, technology adoption, services, mineral-based industries, and the green economy.

The DC Wokha called on all line departments to submit their targets, visions, and achievement plans toward building a shared roadmap for Viksit@Wokha. Advisor MhathungYanthan also urged departments to align their programmes and vision plans to support this development trajectory.

Earlier, the house has also discussed the proposal to upgrade Cherry Hill Kindergarten School in Wokha. School representatives presented a detailed overview, sharing that the institution was established in 2018 with just nine students and currently has 32 students. The school was granted registration in 2010 and now occupies a land area of one acre. The Education Department had verified the proposal, and observed that all the criteria had been fulfilled after which the House recommended further necessary action, it stated.

A brief presentation was delivered by Senior Scientist and Head of ICAR, highlighting the completion of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan across the Wokha district. 

In closing, DC Wokha encouraged all departments and local associations to extend their support to the Wokha football team for the upcoming T Ao Trophy, scheduled to be held in Kohima in August 2025.