Kohima: Nagaland has rolled out a two-month awareness campaign to combat HIV and AIDS, as the state grapples with the second-highest HIV prevalence rate in the country.
Health Minister P Paiwang Konyak, who launched the initiative on Tuesday, said that although the epidemic is on a steady decline, 1.37 per cent of Nagaland’s adult population (15–49 years) remains affected.
“Unprotected sex accounts for 85 per cent of HIV transmissions, followed by injecting drug use at 8.7 per cent and parent-to-child transmission at 5.4 per cent,” he said, citing official figures.
As of June, 15,323 people living with HIV are receiving anti-retroviral therapy in the state.
Konyak urged communities to turn the campaign into a movement, “where knowledge travels faster than disease, hope farther than fear, and action louder than ignorance.”
The campaign, spearheaded by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), will span 520 schools, 110 colleges, and as many villages, reaching over 5,200 households through folk shows, flash mobs, awareness sessions, and community outreach programmes.
Project Director Ahu Sekhose said the drive will also highlight the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, prevention strategies for pregnant women, and available services such as testing, STI treatment, condoms, and the national AIDS helpline (1097).
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Health Secretary Anoop Khinchi noted that the initiative aims to promote safe practices, reduce stigma, and encourage testing and treatment.
The awareness drive will conclude on October 12, coinciding with International Youth Day celebrations.
The launch event, organised by NSACS, saw participation from students representing 66 institutions across Nagaland.
Kohima College Red Ribbon Club member Mezhutuonuo-u Thira urged young people to “break the silence and remove stigma” surrounding HIV and AIDS.
