Despite relentless efforts by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), Nagaland Legislators’ Forum for AIDS (NLFA) and other agencies, Nagaland continues to be counted among the top three States in the Northeast with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
As per a recent report, Mizoram tops the list with 2.04% of its population between 15 and 49 years of age being infected with HIV, while Manipur (1.43%) and Nagaland (1.15 %) follow suit. Also, the recent four-month survey from April to July this year found an alarming upsurge in HIV positive cases in Dimapur with 399 out of the 7,056 persons tested being found positive. This was followed by Kohima with 108 testing positive and Tuensang with 82 persons testing positive.
This was stated by NSACS information, education & communication (IEC) deputy director (DD) Thejangunuo during observation of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day-cum-seminar on HIV/AIDS sensitisation.
Organised jointly by NSACS, NLFA, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and Red Ribbon Club of Kohima College, Kohima (KCK), the programme was held at Kohima College here on Monday.
Thejangunuo said as per the HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) survey, Nagaland led the country with high HIV general prevalence rate of 1.29% in 2016 and was third in the adult prevalence rate (0.78%). She said between 1999 and 2018, a total of 1,06,1976 persons had undergone blood screening test, out of which 23,870 persons were found to be HIV positive. Stating that HIV prevalence was highest in the 25-34 years age-group (42%), followed by the age group 35-49 (31%), the DD added that 93% of the cases transmitted was via sexual intercourse. She regretted that though the State government provided Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for free, many people living with HIV (PLHIV) did not avail ART out of stigma and discrimination. Thejangunuo stated that out of 10,61,976 PLHIVs, only 17,161 got registered for ART and 12,042 had started ART. Further, 1,583 patients died despite undergoing ART and 7,646 were alive on ART, she added.
In his brief address, NLFA convener Dr Vinito Chishi observed that though much awareness was being spread about measles and rubella, HIV/AIDS was not talked about much.
Advising students to lead a “healthy life” and remain safe from HIV/AIDS, he lamented that even a child born with HIV/AIDS was abandoned by its parents, which was unfortunate. Speaking on youth and HIV/AIDS, Hukatoli Chophy spoke on choice of life and asserted that HIV/AIDS was determined by the “kind of life a person chose to live and not cursed.”
He encouraged the students to be responsible to themselves, to people around them and asked them to seize the good opportunities that came along. He also reminded them to adhere to “good life principles” that would ultimately lead them to a healthy life.
Earlier, KCK associate professor Moanungla Kevichusa welcomed the gathering. Attended by KCK staff and students, the sensitisation programme was followed by a voluntary blood donation camp.