Thirty three persons have been tested HIV positive in Zunheboto district (April 2015 to July 2016) out of which six were pregnant mothers, revealed District Program Officer (DPO), DAPCU, Zunheboto Unit Atokali Assumi.
According to DIPR report, the DPO highlighting on the “current Scenario of HIV/AIDS in Zunheboto District” during district level sensitization workshop on “HIV & AIDS and Harm Reduction with law Enforcement Agency” at SP Conference Hall, Zunheboto, Friday organised by Kripa Foundation, District Administration, Police Department, NSACS and FHI360.
She informed that 31 persons have been registered at ARTC. Atokali also highlighted the NACP facilities under Zunheboto district.
Another resource person, director, Kripa Foundation, Abou Mere whole speaking on the topic “understanding drug use /abuse” said Nagaland was passing through a period in the history of HIV and AIDS due to communication gap among parents and children.
He cautioned that in India, HIV prevalence was highest in Nagaland with 1.16% followed by Mizoram with 0.97%. Mere also highlighted the gathering on the effects of drugs in society as due to increase in school and college dropouts, loss of working hours and productivity, increase in crime and huge loss in economy adding that addiction affects one’s mentality, physical, spiritual and emotional well being.
He also spoke on Nagaland Drug Abuse and Prevention Policy 2016, Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, its objectives and provisions and role of Policeforce in the said Acts.
Resource person program coordinator, Kripa Foundation-Project Sunrise, Ketho Angami spoke on “harm reduction” which relates to drug related problems with legal harm, psychological harm, financial harm, occupational harm, social and physical harm.
He also spoke on drug abuse management and its strategies viz, Demand Reduction Strategies, Supply Reduction Strategies and Harm Reduction Strategies.
Ketho also said that Harm Reduction in Nagaland started in mid 1990s with primary focus on prevention and awareness creation. By1999, Harm Reduction was rolled out in Nagaland as part of NACP andat present 45 Harm Reduction Centres exist across Nagaland.
Superintendent of Police, Krodi Rhetso, SDO(C), Shanavas IAS and additional SP, Relo Aye also spoke in the workshop. Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Program Coordinator, Ketho Angami while vote of the thanks was proposed by Program Assistant, Kripa, Meghraj.
The program was attended by Police Officers and all ranks and files of DEF Zunheboto.