Mokokchung, February 15 (MExN): Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) organized a “Positive Living Workshop” for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) on February 14, 2014 at Network of Mokokchung District People Living with HIV/AIDS (NMP+) office, supported by the Italian Bishops Conference.
A press release informed that the main resource person during the daylong training was Kyupise S. Sangtam, Project Director, TI- DAN. He stressed on the effects of HIV infection and related diseases in pregnant women and their unborn babies. Sangtam also emphasized on the importance of Support Group Meeting, which he said is one of the main platforms for PLHIVs to come together and share their thoughts, ideas, problems and reason out together to explore possible solutions. “These meetings usually help people deal with their HIV status; help people disclose their status to their families and generate family support,” he added.
Kyupise also stressed that DLN must take extra efforts in tapping the available resources from government schemes for the marginalized and vulnerable PLHIV communities and assist them in getting nutritional support, educational support for CLHIVs and widow pensions for the WLHIVs in the district. He also encouraged the PLHIV to form a support net to function actively and maintain their basic norms of the group and get registered in district SHG federation and explore the existing funding agencies for Micro-Credit finance through different allied banks for the poor.
The resource person also encouraged the participants to take a lead role in creating awareness among the group, to get health check up at the earliest when sick, to access free service available at Public Health Institutions and learn well to reduce and cut the chain of transmission.
He further urged the PLHIVs to bring gradual transformation in their behavioral high risk activities, which he explained is one of the main ways of preventing HIV and AIDS infection and transmission. PLHIVs from different villages were thoroughly trained, counseled, educated and informed to reform their mindset, behaviors, and attitude, the noted added.
In conclusion, the resource person highlighted basics on HIV/AIDS, HIV-TB co-infection, its treatment on ART, explained on routes of transmission, preventions, myths and misconceptions, stigma and discrimination attached to HIV. DAN also imparted similar training for Tuensang district on February 8.
