Nagaland has 7,980 HIV positive persons

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Nagaland has 7,980 HIV positive persons

http://www.morungexpress.com/local/28765.html

ZUNHEBOTO, July 17 (DIPR): A team of officers from the Nagaland State AIDS

Control Society (NSACS) conducted a coordination meeting on July 15 last at the

DC's conference hall in Zunheboto. Dr. Neiphi Kire, Project Director of NSACS,

in his address said that the Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centre is to be functional

at Zunheboto and all equipments will soon arrive, but added that cooperation

from the GBs, Panchayat, Society, Churches, NGOs and every department was needed

to create a free space and support the HIV/AIDS infected persons to come out in

the open so that treatment can be given to them at an early stage.

ART centre to soon be functional at Zunheboto

Dr. Akaho informed that at present there are 39.5 million people infected with

HIV globally, out of which India has 5.2 million whereas in Nagaland, 7,980

persons are HIV positive. Zunheboto district, he said, has 110 HIV positive

persons out of which 16% were getting treatment at ART. 11 persons have died, he

informed.

Dr. L Yanthan, Additional Project Director for NSACS, said that HIV was

identified in the year 1983, research work started on how the virus could be

tested and soon it caused concern for the World Health Organization and World

Baptist Church Council. On starting surveillance it was found that HIV was being

spread through injection, sexual contact, blood transfusion and from mother to

infant.

Dr. Bernice, Joint Director (TI) NSACS, informed that the NSACS has started the

Targeted Intervention Project (TIP) in partnership with non-government

organisations. Dr. Limakum Jamir, Joint Director of NSACS, informed that

Nagaland has 60 ICT Centres and 10 mobile ICT Centres which will visit remote

places and hold health camps and help people. However, he said, peoples'

cooperation is needed so that work can be carried out successfully.