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DIMAPUR — ARK Foundation and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) conducted a sensitisation programme on HIV/AIDS for stakeholders at Akuluto town hall in Zunheboto district on Tuesday.
The programme was chaired by Pitolu Achumi, member of Akuluto Range Students’ Union (ARSU), while the welcome address was delivered by Livika Chishi, ARK Foundation programme manager of TI project, Akuluto.
In his address, Ketho Angami, president of ARK Foundation, elaborated on the need to address HIV through a collaborated effort. He highlighted on the history of HIV/AIDS and the state response to the epidemic, stated an update from ARK Foundation.
He informed that 31,152 cases of HIV were reported since 2006, while many have died of TB due to co-infection with HIV/AIDS.
Informing that Nagaland ranked the 2nd highest HIV prevalence rate in the country and 92% of HIV transmission is caused due to sexual route, he urged the stakeholders, CSOs, churches, NGO, administration and youth to address the issue and plan way forward to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
He raised concern about the rampant use of drugs and sharing of needles and syringes, which could result in HIV/AIDS infection. He also made special mention of the HIV/AIDS Act 2017, which is to safeguard the people living with HIV, TI programme to provide harm reduction services and the concept of OST which is a legal drug.
He further urged the community not to penalise drug users but to address it as a health concern.
The session on ‘Journey from drugs addiction to recovery’ was delivered by Khekavi Achumi, a client of the TI Project, Akuluto, who shared his personal experience on addiction and how it affected his life in terms of family relation, society, financially and how his life changed drastically after recovering from addiction. He urged the youth to stay away from drugs.
Hokishe Chopy, DPO of DAPCU, Zunheboto, while speaking on overcoming stigma and discrimination to address HIV, stated that 431 cases of HIV in the district were reported since 2003 till January 2024. He among those detected cases, he informed that 72 deaths were reported while 29 were reported lost contact (lost to follow up).
He added that the district reported 6 new HIV cases among the pregnant mothers during the period of April 2023 till January this year. While elaborating on various stigma and discrimination faced by PLHIV, he urged the community to do away with stigma and discrimination and promote inclusion and equal treatment to all.
Atsungba Walling, ADC of Akuluto, thanked the ARK Foundation for conducting the programme in the town. He also urged the community and stakeholders to give more focus on adolescent and school-going children for more awareness programmes for the betterment of the society.
He further extended his full support for any help in the days to come.
Speaking on behalf of the civil society organisations (CSO), Hosheto Awomi (GB) and Aghali Chishi (STH member), expressed gratitude to ARK Foundation for conducting the programme. They further expressed solidarity towards the cause of HIV and Drug use.