Governor inaugurates HIV prevention program in Nagaland

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Governor inaugurates HIV prevention program in Nagaland

Source: Oken Jeet Sandham - http://www.nepsindia.com

Kohima, June 23: The Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta has today

inaugurated the Nagaland efforts of " Project ORCHID, " an HIV

prevention project supported by Avahan (call of action), the Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative here at Zonal

Council Hall.

The Governor appreciated the Avahan for its support to the " Project

ORCHID " in Nagaland and further noted that the new initiative would

complement the State's objective of stemming the growth of the HIV

epidemic in Nagaland.

He hoped such program would enable the people of the State to live

healthier lives.

The Project ORCHID will deliver HIV prevention services in Nagaland

and Manipur, including comprehensive harm reduction for injecting

drug users (IDUs) and prevention interventions for commercial sex

workers.

The Australian International Health Institute (AIHI), in partnership

with the Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA), will implement the

project with the support of a grant from Avahan of up to $ 5 million

(Rs 23 crore) over five years.

The grant was announced by Avahan in March 2004.

AIHI and EHA will collaborate with the Nagaland State AIDS Control

Society (NSACS) and the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) to scale

up HIV prevention efforts across the two States.

Emphasis will be placed on local capacity building through technical

assistance, in order to develop sustainable HIV prevention programs.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio

also appreciated Avahan for choosing Nagaland for the Project ORCHID

and assured them for his Government's full support for the success

of the mission.

He also informed of the formation of the Legislatures' Forum for

taking the lead of the movement of prevention awareness of the

deadly epidemic.

He disclosed that Rs one lac from each Member's Local Area

Development Fund was contributed towards the movement.

He hoped, with the new financial assistance from the Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation, their work would get further boost and it would

help achieving tremendously in its target.

Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister Thenucho said the

Project ORCHID would complement the existing NSACS efforts and build

the capacity of local institutions to deliver urgently needed HIV

prevention efforts across the State.

Nagaland is one of the six States in India with high HIV prevalence

where the percentage of people infected with HIV is greater than one

percent of the adult population.

Over 40% of the transmission of HIV in Nagaland is through injecting

drug use.

Project ORCHID is one of several HIV prevention projects supported

by Avahan, the Gates Foundation's $200 million (Rs 920 crore)

national HIV prevention inititative.

Grants totaling $ 114.5 million (Rs 527 crore), including the grant

of support Project ORCHID, have already been announced by the

initiative.

" Curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nagaland, Manipur and other high

prevalence States is critical to arresting the growth of the

epidemic in the country as a whole, " said Ashok .

" With the support offered by the Government of Nagaland, we are

hopeful that Project ORCHID will make a significant impact on the

epidemic in the region. " Several State Ministers, former Nagaland

Chief Ministers SC Jamir and Hokishe Sema, MLAs, Nagaland Health and

Family Welfare Secretary Temjen Toy, Project Director of NSACS Dr

Kumuni Kathipiri, Avahan Director Ashok , representatives

of Project ORCHID, etc. were among other who attended the function.

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