Nagaland intensifies HIV & STI awareness campaign

In a bid to strengthen public awareness and combat stigma surrounding HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) is set to launch the second edition of the Intensified IEC Campaign (IIC) 2025 on August 12, coinciding with International Youth Day.
Announcing the campaign at a press conference held at NSACS Conference Hall, Kohima, Project Director Dr. Ahu Sekhose informed that the two-month nationwide initiative—under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare—aims to equip the general population with accurate information on HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
Sekhose informed that the campaign will cover 520 villages across all 17 districts of Nagaland, including priority and previously uncovered areas. Activities will include village-level meetings, school and college awareness programmes, special HIV/STI testing camps, bike rallies, folk performances, flash mobs by Red Ribbon Club members, and door-to-door IEC material dissemination.
A parallel eight-week social media campaign will focus on transmission routes, safe sexual behaviour, stigma reduction, and promotion of services such as HIV testing, condom use, and the National AIDS Toll-Free Helpline (1097). Influencers and vloggers will partner to amplify outreach.
The launch event will be held at NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima, with an expected turnout of over 3,400 students. Highlights include: campaign theme song ‘HIV Li’ by the Tetseo Sisters; interactive sessions with influencers including Moko Koza, Akavi, Hikali Achumi, Rovi Metha; HIV counselling and testing facilities; Mural painting, selfie points, and community engagement booths and collaborative activities with NSACS, Plan India, School Education Department, and SDG Cell, Department of Planning & Transformation
NSACS has appealed to district administrations, village councils, educational institutions, NGOs, FBOs, and youth organisations to actively support the campaign.
Nagaland continues to rank second in HIV prevalence nationally, with 87% of infections attributed to sexual transmission and 8% to syringe use. Despite a decline in prevalence, the need for sustained awareness remains critical.
In 2024, the campaign reached over 1.15 lakh individuals, covering 789 villages, 107 colleges, 518 schools, and conducting 410 special testing camps. A total of 24,404 IEC materials were distributed, alongside 11 folk performances and 50 flash mob activities.