Y.Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary Health & Family Welfare and Chairman Nagaland State Aids Control Society (NSACS) officially flagged off four Mobile Integrated Counselling & Testing Centres (ICTCs) for four districts namely Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, and Noklak at the Directorate of H&FW on Thursday, a DIPR report stated.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS said Nagaland has the second highest HIV positivity rate in the country, second to Mizoram which is at 2.70 percent. The highest affected district is Dimapur with 2.02 percent, Tuensang, including Noklak, at 2.14 percent and Kohima at 1.28 standing as the second and third most affected districts in the state.
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Sema said that there is an urgent need to create awareness about HIV in the minds of the general public and to ensure that proper facilities are provided for the citizens concerning detection and treatment of HIV positive persons.
He also thanked the Government of India for the assistance and said 10 vehicles had been provided 13 years back. Of the four launched vehicles for Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Noklak, Sema said, Noklak district is provided with an MICTCS vehicle for the first time however the other three are to replace the existing vehicles that have become difficult to maintain.
4 new MICTC vehicles for the districts of Mon, Noklak,Tuensang & Longleng was flagged off by Shri Y. Kikheto Sema IAS,Commr & Secy, HFW & Chairman NSACS. This MICTCs will be providing HIV counseling & testing services on wheels,especially hard to reach areas & far flung villages pic.twitter.com/yB1V43TVXU
— Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (@Nagaland_SACS) February 16, 2023
Dr. Akuo Sorhie, Project Director, NSACS in her keynote address highlighted the aims and objectives behind the launching of the Mobile ICTCs.
“MICTC Vans are used to conduct integrated coordinated activities with the state health department through activities like Health Camps, Health Melas, Vertical Health Programs under NHM”, she said.
Sorhie added that the vans are also involved in the outreach activities like HIV counselling in the interior areas where facilities are in the high rich pockets within the town. It also covers high risk groups in all districts like prisoners and other closed settings covering schools and colleges in collaboration with the Red Ribbon Clubs.
