Nagaland to host NE’s first anti-HIV/AIDS multimedia campaign

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 16 (EMN): The first-ever Northeast multimedia campaign against HIV/AIDS will be held at Kohima local ground on Feb. 18 basedon the slogan, ‘Northeast united against HIV/AIDS.’

Addressing media persons at Hotel Japfu on Saturday, officials from the National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) and the department of Health and Family Welfare said that the multimedia campaign was a special package provided exclusively for the states of Northeast India since 2009 by Naco to promote awareness, compassion, education and support to the issue of HIV and AIDS in the region.

Dr. Naresh Goel, the deputy director general of NACO said the event will be hosted by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society with Nagaland government as the chief patron. He also said the event will witness participation of representatives from various state AIDS control society and winners of multimedia campaign.

Himato Zhimomi, the principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare said the main aim of the campaign was to advocate the issues of HIV/AIDS; encourage safe and responsible behaviour among the youth; reduce the level of stigma and discrimination by demystifying HIV/AIDS and promote HIV/AIDS related services especially HIV testing.

Talking about the scenario of HIV in Nagaland, Dr. Ngangshimeren, the project director of NSACS stated that according to the latest strategic information management system, 91% of the route of transmission was through the sexual route, 5% through syringe and needles, 4% through parent to child.