Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland, P. Paiwang Konyak launched the third round of the Intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) at Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Chümoukedima, on August 12.
Organised by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the campaign seeks to strengthen awareness on HIV and STIs, promote prevention and early testing, combat stigma and discrimination, and improve access to health services across the State.
Addressing the gathering as the special guest on International Youth Day, Konyak said the launch was an opportunity to reaffirm the collective commitment towards safeguarding the health, dignity and future of Nagaland’s people. He described young people as important partners in shaping the present and stressed the need to invest in their health, knowledge and empowerment.
Highlighting Nagaland’s HIV situation, the Minister said the State continued to face a significant challenge but had also made considerable progress through sustained prevention, testing and treatment efforts. Since 2010, he said, Nagaland had recorded a 39.97 per cent reduction in new HIV infections and an 80.21 per cent decline in AIDS-related deaths, demonstrating the impact of prevention, early diagnosis and uninterrupted treatment.
Referring to the NACO HIV Estimation 2025, Konyak noted that HIV prevalence varied across districts and therefore required locally appropriate interventions. He acknowledged the support of the Government of India and NACO and said the Mobilization for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) approach provided a framework for district-led, evidence-based and result-oriented interventions.
He said the first two rounds of the campaign had covered more than 1,300 village meetings, over 1,000 schools and 200 colleges, besides conducting more than 7,600 door-to-door awareness drives and directly engaging over two lakh citizens.
However, he stressed that the success of the third round should not be measured merely by the number of activities conducted, but by the number of people reached, those coming forward for testing and treatment, and the extent to which stigma and discrimination were reduced.
Konyak called for greater emphasis on the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B, stressing that every pregnant woman should have access to testing and timely intervention. He also called for health services to remain accessible, confidential, compassionate and free from discrimination.
Appealing to young people, the Minister urged them to seek accurate information, understand their risks, know their HIV status and make informed choices. He also called upon district administrations, healthcare workers, community leaders, churches, educational institutions, civil society organisations, NGOs and representatives of vulnerable communities to take ownership of the campaign and help reach unreached populations.
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He maintained that the fight against HIV could not be addressed by the government alone and called for collective action to build a healthier and more inclusive Nagaland where people can access information and testing without fear and persons living with HIV are treated with dignity.
Delivering the keynote address, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, S. Tainiu, NCS, said the third round was aimed at taking the HIV and STI response closer to communities through evidence-based action.
She said the campaign would focus on increasing awareness, promoting safer practices, reducing stigma and discrimination, encouraging testing, counselling and early treatment, and reaching youth and vulnerable populations.
Tainiu stressed the importance of extending services to remote and far-flung areas where difficult terrain and limited connectivity often restrict access to healthcare. She called for stronger participation from young people and community organisations and emphasised that HIV prevention was a shared responsibility requiring coordination among government departments, healthcare workers, educational institutions, civil society organisations and communities.
Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mereninla Senlem, and Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, also addressed the gathering. Earlier, Project Director, NSACS, Dr S. Manyau Phom delivered the welcome address.
Following the programme, Minister Konyak flagged off the Intensified IEC Campaign 2026 Bike Rally, with 25 bikers carrying messages of HIV and STI awareness, prevention and solidarity to communities.
Five new “Health on Bike” outreach motorbikes were also flagged off for Niuland, Tseminyu, Tuensang, Longchem in Mokokchung and Tobu in Mon districts.
Under the initiative “Health on Bike – Reaching the Unreached,” the motorbikes will take HIV prevention, testing and related services closer to communities where difficult terrain and limited connectivity can limit access to routine health services.
The programme was attended by senior government and health officials, district administration representatives, District Health Programme Officers, NGOs, teachers, students and community leaders.
