Remembering many lives lost to AIDS and to honour those who dedicated their lives to helping people living with and affected by HIV, and continue to mobilise communities in solidarity, District Health Society (DHS) Mon commemorated “International AIDS Candlelight Memorial” Sunday at the Conference Hall, District Hospital Mon (DHM).
The “International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2024” highlights the stigma and self-stigma experienced by People Living with HIV (PLHIV) under the theme, “Together we remember, together we heal, through love and solidarity!”.
Speaking at the programme as the guest speaker, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mon, Dr Imnapokim, said the event is a community mobilisation campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV and AIDS. He pointed out that it was not only the department or the organization but every individual’s duty to create awareness.
Mentioning that for over 40 years there has been no specific medicine to cure HIV and AIDS, Dr Imnapokim urged the participants to light the candle with the hope that one day medicine will be discovered to cure the disease, and to show their love, support, and hope that there was no discrimination and stigmatization against infected ones in society.
District Programme Officer (DPO) DAPCU Mon, Longyim Tzudir briefed the gathering on HIV and AIDS status of Mon district, while a short speech was delivered by All Wards Union Mon Town, president, Y Pongba K.
The programme was chaired by Shansham Organisation Mon, programme manager, Stephen; invocation by DHM Chaplain, YP David K; special song by OST Centre, DHM; candlelight vigil was led Ngamyoh K and the benediction Gorkha Baptist Church Mon Pastor Vijay Thapa.
The commemoration programme in Mon was organised by District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) Shansham, Mon Users Network, Facility Integrated Antiretroviral Therapy Centre (FI- ART), Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centre, Vihaan and AHANA organisation, and supported by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society. (NSACS).