Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 7
NAGALAND today joined in observing World AIDS Orphans Day offering special prayer seeking good health and God’s grace upon 100-odd AIDS orphaned children in the State.
A formal observation was held in Kohima under the aegis of the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and Kohima Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (KNP+).
The official statistics as advertised by NSACS today states that there are 693 children infected with HIV in Nagaland.
Addressing the gathering as the special guest, social activist Dr Joyce Z Angami said Nagaland does not have complete record about the children affected with HIV/AIDS. However, as per the available records there about 825 affected children while 95 of them are under ART (anti-retroviral therapy).
She also lamented that there is no support from the State government or any agencies to look into the welfare of such affected children. Except for providing medicine, the nutrition, consultancy, guidance and shelter are not being catered to, she added.
Nonetheless, she maintained that concerned about their plight, the NSACS and other NGOs have come up with a body under the banner Children Affected With AIDS (CAWA).
She said CAWA would take proper assessment of the children with AIDS in the district, starting from Dimapur and Kohima.
She, therefore, called upon the general masses to join hands in bringing about the required change in the lives of the affected children as every child is precious.
An outing programme for the children was held at Dimori Cove, Kigwema later.
