NNagaDAO urges govt to reactivate State AIDS Council

Nagaland Network of Drug and AIDS Organisation (NNagaDAO), an apex body of NGOs and CBOs working in the field of drugs and HIV & AIDS in Nagaland, has urged the state government to immediately activate the State AIDS Council and the Committee of Concern.
In a statement, Nagaland Network of Drug and AIDS Organisation president Abou Mere stressed that the state must take decisive political leadership in addressing the intersecting crises of substance use disorder, HIV, TB, viral hepatitis and STIs, while intensifying efforts against stigma and discrimination.
The organisation maintained that NGOs and community-led groups, which often deliver effective services to key populations, must be meaningfully engaged at all levels of planning of public health strategies rather than being treated merely as implementers.
NNagaDAO called for a collective and sustained response, stating that the government must take faith-based organisations (FBOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) into confidence and work with them as equal partners through coalition-building to address barriers and improve service delivery and uptake.
It further urged the government to adopt an integrated health approach by aligning services for substance use disorder, HIV, TB, hepatitis and STIs with primary healthcare to improve access, efficiency and quality of care, and ensure long-term health and dignity.
The organisation also called for adoption of modern prevention and treatment tools, including long-acting injectables such as Lenacapavir and Buprenorphine to ensure treatment adherence.
NNagaDAO pointed out that fragmented financing and disease-specific workflows were limiting continuity of care, and advocated for a streamlined system ensuring easy access to diagnostics and quality treatment for all.