Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) has recorded 512 HIV positives out of 24,872 people tested in 11 districts of the state during April-June 2014.
This report was tabled during an advocacy programme organized by Network of Naga people living with HIV & AIDS (NNP+) with Kohima Press Club (KPC) supported by India HIV & AIDS alliance, Wednesday at LCS building Kohima.
Highlighting HIV & AIDS scenario of the state NSACS stated that Dimapur recorded the highest with 250 HIV +ve out of 4859 persons tested followed by Kohima with 100 HIV +ve from 3419 persons tested. Tuensang 53 HIV +ve from 2765 persons tested, Mokokchung 34 HIV +ve from 3819 persons tested, Mon 6 HIV +ve from 2020 persons tested, Zunheboto HIV +ve from 1561 persons tested, Phek HIV +ve from 1639 persons tested, Wokha 10 HIV +ve from 1839 persons tested, Peren HIV +ve from 1417 persons tested, Kiphire 19 HIV +ve from 907 persons tested and Longleng 2 HIV +ve from 627 persons tested. The record stated the trend of HIV prevalence rate as per the NACO technical report, Nagaland is at 0.73 (2011) and India is 0.27 (2011).
Earlier, program officer Vihaan program NNP+ Nagaland Shan Ezung in his address said Vihaan is a national program on extended care and support for people living with HIV & AIDS in response under National AIDS Control Programme IV (NACPIV).
Ezung said Vihaan programme works with the department of AIDS Control (DAC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and State AIDS Control Society (SACS) in 31 states and territories. Vihaan is supported by a grant from the Global fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and is implemented by India HIV & AIDS Alliance and 17 Partners State Level PLHIV Network and NGOs across the India.
He said Nagaland has nine service units in including 5 care & support centres (CSC) namely KNP+ Kohima, Chavara home Dimapur, NTDP+ Tuensang, NMP+ Mokokchung, KpNP+ Kiphire and 4 help desks (HD)namely WNP+ Wokha, NZP+ Zunheboto, NPDP+, Peren, PNP+, Phek. He also shared about key activities at CSC, networking and linkages and social entitlement / schemes. State project coordinator shared the introduction to Svavritti project Nagaland and an interaction with the media in regards to health issue (HIV & AIDS) was also held.
In the discussion hour various issues like treatment literacy, easy accessibility of ART, correct use of terminology, stigma and discrimination, awareness campaign, need to set up pressure group, latest update, HIV co-infection with Hepatitis C and others. Both the team agreed in principle that interaction programme would be conducted time to time and would join hands together to fight HIV and related issues in future. The programme was attended by around 30 persons from NSACS, NNP+, media, NGO , Vihaan care and support and others. The programme was compeered by Lucy Imchen and Shan Ezung.
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