Statewide HIV awareness drive till October 12
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUG 12 (NPN): Nagaland Health & Family Welfare minister P Paiwang Konyak on Wednesday called for a more result-oriented approach to the state’s HIV response, saying the success of Intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign 3.0 should be measured by lives protected rather than programmes conducted.
Speaking at the state-level launch of the campaign on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at Agri Expo, coinciding with International Youth Day, Paiwang said Nagaland continued to face a significant HIV challenge, with an estimated 23,470 people living with HIV.
He said the state’s adult HIV prevalence stood at 1.37%, the second-highest in the country after Mizoram. Dimapur recorded the highest positivity rate at 3.29%, followed by Noklak at 3.07% and Chümoukedima at 2.01%.
Paiwang, however, highlighted progress, citing a 39.97% reduction in new HIV infections and an 80.21% decline in AIDS-related deaths since 2010. He said the figures showed that prevention, early diagnosis and consistent treatment were yielding results.
On the third round of the IEC campaign, he said the state must move beyond conducting awareness programmes and focus on outcomes—encouraging people to undergo HIV testing, receive timely treatment and overcome stigma and discrimination.
Paiwang stressed the need to intensify efforts towards triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, saying every pregnant woman should have access to testing and timely intervention. He called for HIV services to remain accessible, confidential, compassionate and free from discrimination, and urged concerted efforts to achieve National AIDS Control Programme goals and the global 95-95-99 targets.
Citing NACO HIV Estimation 2025, Paiwang said HIV prevalence varied across Nagaland, requiring locally tailored responses. Peren, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Longleng were in the moderate prevalence category, while Mon recorded the lowest prevalence at 0.29%. He cautioned that lower prevalence could also reflect lower testing rates or fewer cases reported to health centres.
He called on district administrations, healthcare workers, community leaders, churches, schools, civil society organisations, partner NGOs and representatives of injecting drug users and people living with HIV to take ownership of the campaign. He also urged young people to seek accurate information, know their HIV status and make informed choices, while using schools, colleges, youth organisations and social media to counter misinformation and stigma.
Addressing people living with HIV, Paiwang urged them to remain committed to treatment and assured continued government support, while calling on society to uphold their dignity and rights.
The minister also flagged off five new “Health on Bike” outreach motorbikes for Niuland, Tseminyu, Tuensang, Longchem in Mokokchung and Tobu in Mon. He said the initiative would bring healthcare closer to remote communities and ensure geographical distance did not become a barrier to healthcare.
Paiwang said the first two rounds of the campaign had resulted in over 1,300 village meetings, outreach to more than 1,000 schools and 200 colleges, over 7,600 door-to-door awareness drives and direct engagement with more than two lakh citizens. He reiterated that future efforts must focus on outcomes rather than activities alone.
H&FW secretary S Tainiu said Campaign 3.0 aimed to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and STIs, promote preventive behaviour, reduce stigma and discrimination, encourage early testing and treatment, and reach youth, vulnerable groups and remote communities. The campaign will continue across all districts until October 12 through village meetings, door-to-door drives, school and college outreach, special camps at district hospitals, folk media and other community mobilisation activities.
The programme was chaired by NSACS CPO Anna Hairang Thou, with welcome address by NSACS project director Dr S Manyau Phom and invocation by NBCC Nagaland Missions Movement secretary Rev Lipok Pongen. Brief remarks were delivered by principal director H&FW Dr Mereninla Senlem and DC Dimapur Dr Tinojongshi Chang. Chümoukedima Dance & Fit’s Studio performed “Red Ribbons of Hope”, while MSSM, Patkai Christian College (A), presented a special choir performance.