Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) on Thursday revealed that there were 3933 AIDS cases reported from 1994 to June 2011 as per AIDS Case Surveillance report and ART report. The study showed that out of the 3933 cases, 2141 were male and 1792 were female. It was also reported that 552 AIDS related deaths had occurred, while 2595 were alive and under Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). The total registered on ART is 7463. Informing this during a consultative meet of executive committee of Legislators’ Forum on AIDS (LFA) with NSACS officials and NGOs, commissioner and secretary Health & Family Welfare Menukhol John who is also chairman of NSACS said the transmission of HIV at present was through sexual route in Nagaland. He stated that the highest group of people affected by HIV was between the age of 25-49 years, adding that the age group was a concern as it was the most productive stage.
Highlighting HIV/AIDS programmes being carried out in the state, Menukhol John said the state follows four pronged strategy as laid down in National AIDS Control Programme phase III–prevention of high risk and low risk population; care, support and treatment to HIV and HIV related diseases; strategic information management through monitoring and evaluation; and capacity building. The NSACS chairman further said that while implementing the works, various challenges were met such as frequent stock out of ARV drugs, frequent breakdown of power supply resulting to inconveniences in using CD4 machines, financial constraints of people living with HIV and AIDS in accessing services including investigation cost.
Giving the introductory speech, NLA deputy speaker Ralanthung Yanthan emphasized on the need to create a congenial atmosphere for better understanding between NGOs and policy makers. He stated that support based system should be created with varied specific roles played by each organization. Lauding the efforts of NGOs in containing the prevalence rate of HIV, Yanthan called upon the organizations to further contain the menace. He also mentioned that Mizoram and Assam governments had adopted the system of creating a legislators’ forum for AIDS after Nagaland. He assured that LFA will continue to create awareness to the general masses.
Representatives of various NGOs across the state also raised their views on various challenges and needs of people affected by HIV and AIDS and those working for them. Some key points raised during discussion were – need to set up targeted intervention centers for short-distance truckers plying within and around Nagaland; setting up of state harm reduction policy; universal precaution and over-dose management mandatory in all district hospitals; passing of AIDS Bill; need to root out genuine and bogus NGOs so that funds and schemes would be channeled to the right people.
Members of LFA present at the meeting include- minister, PHED Dr. Ngangshi Ao, parl. secretary Law & Tourism Yitachu, NSMDC chairman Kipili Sangtam, MARCOFED chairman C.L. John, parl. secretary, Prison, HG, F&ES W. Kithan, parl. secretary for Fisheries Heno, and Joshua Sumi, MLA. The meeting was chaired by NKVIB chairman Dr. Nicky Kire.
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