An advocacy and sensitization programme on HIV and AIDS, drugs related issues-cum-health camp with stakeholders and HRG’s was held at Panchayat Hall, Jakhama on Saturday.
The programme was organized by NUN TI Jakhama in collaboration with OST Jakhama, LWS Kripa foundation, NUN SSK NHAK, Mobile ICTC, Mobile Medical unit.
Speaking at the event, MO, OST, Jakhama, Dr Keneilhoulie Medom, said that drug addiction should be treated as a disease, which required proper medication and support. She suggested Opioid substitution therapy (OST) for those drug users, a process in which opioid-dependent injecting drug users were provided with long-acting opioid agonist medications. She also clarified that there had been several misconceptions about the OST and spoke on its benefits for the addicts.
On the increasing use of drug (sunflower), Dr Medom said that many youths were experimenting the drug due to the odour and cheap price.
Program manager, NUN TI Jakhama, Nongonu Savi shared on the services, project objectives carried on by Nagaland Users Network (NUN) TI Jakahma.
Manager-cum-counsellor, SSK, NHAK, Suveto Kezo highlighted the activities of Sampoorna Suraksha Kendra (SSK). Kezo also shared that SSK was people centric to provide holistic set of essential healthy services such as HIV testing, Hep B, Hep C STI etc.
Importance of testing was delivered by Zonal Supervisor, LWS, Mhosolu Demo.
Earlier, the program was chaired by Counsellor, OST Jakhama Kevisenu Khatso, invocation by CRC, Jakhama pastor John Zao and vote of thanks by PE, NUN TI Jakhama, Vilakoto Mera.