‘World AIDS Orphans Day’ observed

Calling all families, faith-based groups and civil bodies to address the issue of orphans and vulnerable children affected with HIV and AIDS, Chotisüh Sazo, parliamentary secretary, Women Development and Social Welfare, on Thursday said one should not remain complacent but address the increasing challenge.
Speaking on the occasion of World AIDS Orphans Day held at State Academy Hall, Chotisüh Sazo said that one of the most tragic consequences of HIV and AIDS was the huge number of children orphaned as a result of parents dying from AIDS. He stated “HIV and AIDS have impacted our state not only because the most productive population are being decimated but also because the future of our children are at risk.” He therefore called upon the people to support families and communities that serve as safety net for AIDS orphans, give due legal rights to the orphans, and give social, psychological and physical treatment to HIV positive children. Sazo also said that orphaned or vulnerable children should have access to education, health and nutrition, job training and livelihood support, etc.
The parliamentary secretary further mentioned that the State government was trying its best to tackle HIV and AIDS problems and create awareness amongst the legislators, government officers and community members. He highlighted some services available within the state under the Women Development Department such as nutritional support to women and children living with HIV and AIDS, scholarship to affected and infected children, vocational training programme to women living with HIV and AIDS, and educational support to 120 Orphaned or Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Dimapur through funding from Catholic Relief Foundation, Nagaland Development Organization.
Speaking on the significance of World AIDS Orphans Day, project director of NSACS, Dr. Neiphi Kire said Government of Nagaland observed World AIDS Orphans Day on May 7 along with the rest of the world to draw attention and address the issue of HIV and AIDS. He expressed hope that the gathering would not just sympathize and go back, but would step forward to take action for AIDS Orphans. Dr. Kire said that even if prevention and treatment services surpass all optimistic expectations, there would be a good number of AIDS orphans. He added that Nagaland had estimate of 19,000 people living with HIV and AIDS. The project director revealed that more than 50% of children were without any intervention programme and urged the need to address the issue of nutrition for AIDS children. He also stated that activities of prevention of parent to child transmission should scale up. “We have to scale up our care and support activities and ensure that children and parents come to avail the services” he said. He also expressed the need to contextualize the issues of HIV and AIDS and increase appropriate targeted intervention programmes and technologies.
Words of concern and speeches were delivered by C.J. Ponraj, chief election officer; Khesheli, president NMA; Marnungla, state coordinator, FXB India Suraksha; and a representative from NNP+. The programme was attended by commissioner and secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Menukhol John, and other government officials and NGOs. School students also participated in the programme. The programme was organized by the FXB, NSACS, NNP+, N-Naga Dao and NMA.