Mokokchung observed World AIDS Day along with the rest of the World on 1 December under the theme ‘Equalize’ at the Chief Medical Office, Conference Hall, Mokokchung Town.
At the programme, the main speaker, Longtiba Sangtam (SDO Civil), District Administration, Mokokchung, called for a stop to HIV/AIDS stigma.
Stigma causes people to be reluctant to get tested, to take measures and precautions and to get treated after they are diagnosed with the infection, he stated.
Sangtam also pointed that there were also instances where even health workers were reluctant to treat and take care of the HIV-positive people.
He urged everyone to spread awareness in personal, social and cultural level against stigmatising, saying that he believes that such awareness will help people to co-exist equally in the society.
A person from the Network of Mokokchung District People living with HIV (NMP+) also spoke in the program. He testified that in the initial days after being diagnosed as an NMP+ person, he had fallen into depression but now he is living a happy and normal life because of the help and care of the health workers.
While talking on the significance of World AIDS Day, Limatula Aier, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) stated that HIV still continues to be a serious issue. She stated that the progress on HIV prevention has been stagnant owing to the pandemic and urged everyone in attendance to spread the message of HIV prevention as a takeaway mission and to avoid prejudices against HIV and those living with it.
The program was organized by District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, Network of Mokokchung District People living with HIV/AIDs, Targeted Intervention NGOs and Mokokchung UN and sponsored by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS).