World AIDS Day observed in Mokokchung and Peren

Mokokchung, December 1 (MTNews): Students from School of Nursing, Doctors and District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) staff took part in a walkathon covering the stretch from IMDH to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer Mokokchung today to mark the observation of World AIDS Day on the theme “Equalize”. It was then followed by a program at the Conference Hall, CMO Office Mokokchung.

The Program was jointly organized by DAPCU, NMP+, TI NGOs and UN Mokokchung. The walkathon became a mouthpiece to promote that people with AIDS have to be treated as equal and their rights need to be recognized within the society.

While speaking on the significance of the observation, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Limatula Aier cited that the observation of World AIDS Day gives a chance to people all over the world to gather against HIV and support those who are living with HIV. She added that this day can be fully utilized by spreading the message of equality among men, especially for patients living with HIV, and confront those prejudices suffered by them. She further stated that HIV is an epidemic forgotten in the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the world is still on its fight against it.

Testifying on living with HIV, a positive speaker testified on his life journey living with HIV. He stated that since he began taking his medications, he has been living a healthy life and the treatment has enabled him to cope up with all the daily activities like any other man does. He urged the people to come forward for timely testing of HIV and medication so that people who are tested positive can live a stable life like him.

The theme speaker Longdiba Sangtam SDO (Civil) Mokokchung, while speaking on the theme, “Equalize” stated that the United Nations aims to eliminate HIV AIDS by the year 2030, yet it is very doubtful whether it can be achieved on the said timeline. But, he envisioned that, if people come together to minimize transmission of HIV AIDS, its rate of transmission can be put to a halt.

He further added that stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV/AIDS is very much prevalent in the society and it is only when people do away with it that people will come forward to get themselves tested, which can go a long way in containment and elimination of the epidemic. And with the advancement of medical science, though without a cure, a person who is tested positive can live a healthy life like everyone else with the medications that are available.

Meanwhile, under the same theme, Peren District observed World AIDS Day at Peren Town Women Welfare Hall with Er Seyievilie Pfiikri, EAC, Peren as Special Guest.

The program was organized by DAPCU Peren in collaboration with District Level Network Peren, RRC Peren Govt College and Govt Higher Secondary School Peren.

On the occasion, Er Seyievilie launched a free baseline investigation for initiation of ART which was procured under RBF, District Health Authority, CMO Peren.

Er Seyievilie encouraged the gathering to take an active role in fighting against the pandemic and said that every individual can contribute and has a role in fighting against the pandemic.