HIV Interventions in North East States

HIV Interventions in North East States

The National AIDS Control Organization (NACP) in collaboration with Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) supported by Voluntary Health Services-Centre for Disease Control (VHS-CDC) organized the 4th North East Conclave at Shillong, Meghalaya at The State Convention Centre, Pinewood Hotel.

Shri A.L. Hek, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Function. State Guest Shri. K. B. Agarwal, IAS, Joint Secretary of National AIDS Control Organization was also part of the Conclave.

The National AIDS Control Program (NACP) aims to accelerate the process of epidemic reversal and further strengthen the epidemic response in India through a cautious and well defined integration process over the five-year plan of 2012- 2017.

The objectives of NACP-IV are to reduce new infections and provide comprehensive care and support to all PLHIV and treatment services for all those who requires it. The Conclave was strategized to facilitate discussions about the epidemic in the North East, assess the NACP implementation by North East States and to collectively brainstorm and develop appropriate and localized solutions for the response by North East States to address the epidemic.

Shri A. L HEK addressed the concerns and seriousness represented in the change of the growth pattern of Aids from a mysterious disease to a global epidemic. He tried to outline the commitments of promising access for better treatment and prevention programs. “Increasing the availability and accessibility to sustain the transmission within the group, will not be sufficient. Even though it is important. Harm-reduction programs, prevention through education and prevention of blood borne HIV transmission and integrated HIV programs integrated within the state and nationally is needed. “Mentions Shri A. L. Hek.

The matter was not to discuss just issues pertaining to Shillong but the entire North East region has continued to be a focus area for Department of AIDS Control because of its vulnerability and prevalence. In the NE region, the HIV epidemic is driven by dual risk factors of unsafe sex and injecting drug use. This poses a major challenge.

Among the NE States, an estimated total of 63,049 are HIV infections, Manipur has shown the highest estimated adult HIV prevalence of 1.22%, followed by Mizoram (0.74%) and Nagaland (0.73%). the highest being in the State of Manipur (25,369) and the lowest in Sikkim (593). The annual new infections in North-Eastern States have increased from 5,549 in 2001 to 6,460 in 2011.This is opposite to national trend where an overall decline of 57% has been recorded in the same period.

The stakeholders at the conclave meeting were trying to brainstorm some of the challenges to create a strategic state plan to target with common issues. Where there is a need for state action plan of site specific to each state.

The multi-skill development and capacities logistics is needed to be implemented for a strategic plan to create a dialogue of mobilization. “The community needs to assess first before any intervention,” mentions one of the facilitators. The Conclave meeting was indeed a brainstorming session on intervention and consultative analysis for the North East region where Aids is a growing medical problem.