In response to NACO Director's statement at the launch of the NE project..

[Guest guest]

An open letter in response to NACO Director General's statement at the

launching of Joint North East HIV project of NACO and UNAIDS at New Delhi on

12th Oct, 2007

Dear M'am Sujatha Rao,

It is very encouraging to know that the joint North East HIV project of NACO and

UNAIDS is finally launched. I hope this would now lead to the implementation of

the proposed plan urgently and comprehensively.

I want to express our utmost gratitude to NACO and UNAIDS for facilitating this

process and to the Governments of Australia and Sweden for their generous and

most thoughtful giving towards this critical initiative to combat the spread of

HIV in the region.

Your speech during the launching ceremony was widely covered through the

television news as well as several news papers. We are encouraged to note your

deep concern especially for Nagaland and your honest and open opinion about the

seriousness of the HIV epidemic in our State.

However, I am a little perplexed as to why you specifically targetted the Church

of Nagaland as a 'Serious barrier' to HIV prevention and went on to add " that

abstinence and fidelity are fine, but Church should recognise that youth were

involved in multiple sexual partners… "

Should your audience be Church representatives or even Naga civil society, I

would understand the need to openly share this concern with them and would have

appreciated your honest view. But since this was a formal ceremony for launching

of a new project, and your audience, I would imagine were mostly Government

officials, funders and media, I am surprised that this opinion was brought out

as the highlight of your speech. Anyway, I hope it has aroused general interest

about the epidemic in Nagaland.

As someone deeply aware of the critical role of the Church and the influence the

church has on the society, I would like to draw your attention to a broader

picture of the situation in Nagaland and the need for us to build bridges of

partnership and collaborations with all stakeholders, not just the church.

The first person detected with HIV in Nagaland in 1990 died on March 27th ,

1997. From the time he was found HIV+ive till the day he died, this young man

was carried through by his Church. He had many opportnunities to speak through

the platform of the Church about how HIV is transmitted and can be prevented and

what the Church should do to ensure that everyone has proper information about

the disease.

Much before State AIDS Control program came into active being, the church had

started its own education programs and now while the State is yet to formulate

its official policy for HIV, the church has started a process of developing a

rights-based policy for HIV prevention and care through a participatory and

collective process.

But like everyone else, the church is also still in the learning process and

continue to make mistakes, some of which are extremely regretable.

HIV prevention and care initiatives led by the Church are often self

supported by the Church themselves or through external Christian agencies, and

therefore, you may not be getting any such information as they would not be

reporting to NSACS.

I have personally been involved in many meetings, workshops, consultations and

trainings of the Church leaders and Church organizations, and rarely have I come

across any unrealistic resistance towards harm reduction programs. Infact, some

Churches have gone to the extend of giving the church premises to be used as

drop-in centers for vulnerable groups.

You are absolutely right to point out that HIV is now spreading through the

sexual route and not as much through injecting drug use.

There is definitely clear evidence that young people are actively indulging in

sexual activities. There is indeed a critical need for protective mechanisms

such as condoms to be made easily available and accessible to all sexually

active people.

The data available about the HIV incidence in Nagaland is limited as it is

confined only to those datas collected from Government health centers. There are

many private clinics and hospitals and these institutes have some staggering

datas that are yet to figure in the official data of the State.

Therefore, we are very much aware about the seriousness of the HIV epidemic in

our State.

One major group that has not been recognised as highly vulnerable are

alcoholics. Nagaland has a serious problem with alcohol. There is also clear

evidence that alcoholics are also highly sexually active, and they do not have

access to harm reduction programs and services. In Kohima alone there are over

1000 booze joints which caters to at least 10,000 alcoholics a day.

Another category of people who are not recognised as vulnerable are young

students most of whom come to mini towns like Kohima and Dimapur for educational

purposes.

As you know Nagaland is a rural State, all basic services are confined to

district headquarters. Most young people who come

to towns stay in groups in rented house or hostels. These young people are also

highly vulnerable not just because they are exposed to many risky behaviors but

also because they have no access to proper education and information about HIV

and other infectious diseases.

Nagaland is still a highly volatile ground for conflict. Our prolonged

political problem continue to remain unresolved which means many young

people are still called into active participation in the armed struggle.

They are also highly vulnerable because they live an extremely mobile

lifestyle and also have no access to services as they are often in hide-outs or

in far off places from all services. Conflict, as you know, breeds deep pain and

suffering, and often the approach to cope with that pain is through intoxication

with alcohol and drugs. In the whole world, it is already proved that where

there is conflict and violence, HIV infection also increases.

Lack of development and employment opportunities, poverty, poor health

infrastructure, no recreational facilities etc are all contributing to the

spread of HIV. It is so important that the State program, the Church, the Civil

Society and all Stakeholders come together in common understanding and address

the broader issues collectively rather than confining to their own methods and

guidelines while implementing the HIV prevention programs.

I think a time has come for us to seek collective wisdom and design creative

methodologies rather than accusing 'the other' of not doing their bit.

Thank you for your concern and support towards our State and I do hope that you

will soon bring all of us together under the umbrella of this new joint

initiative for a healthy dialogue and a common plan to combat HIV in Nagaland.

With Kind regards,

Neichu Dz. Angami

Kohima

e-mail: <neidzangami@...>