By Dr Asangba Tzudir
The recent report highlighting a significant decline in political attention toward HIV in Nagaland is a matter of worth pondering and demands due warrant. Nagaland stood at the forefront of community-led HIV response, but it now stands at a precipice, and now risks losing hard-won gains to complacency, stigma, and shifting policies and priorities. At a time when public health demands sustained commitment, the weakening urgency around HIV is not just a administrative lapse but equally a social and moral failure.
Nagaland currently faces one of India’s highest HIV prevalence rates, recorded at 1.37% in 2023, which is significantly above the national average of 0.21%. As of December 2025, it ranks as the second-highest state for adult HIV prevalence, largely driven by injecting drug use and expanding beyond traditional high-risk groups, requiring urgent intervention. Civil society organizations, church groups, and community leaders have worked in remarkable coordination to address the crisis. Awareness campaigns, testing drives, and support systems for affected individuals have created a model of participatory health governance. However, the current decline in political will threatens to dismantle this fragile progress. Within such a scenario, when leadership retreats, then systems weaken, funding also diminishes, and in the process, even the most vulnerable are left exposed.
HIV is not simply a medical issue but finds deeply embedded in issues of stigma, identity, and social injustice. When there is silence of the policies, it reinforces the silence within communities, where fear and discrimination continue to prevent people from seeking testing and treatment. In many cases, individuals living with HIV face exclusion not only from society but also from employment, education, and even family support systems. Without a strong political advocacy, these structural injustices remain unchallenged.
The consequences arising out of negligence are far-reaching. There cannot be any compromises considering the gravity of the issue. Awareness and prevention programs needs sustained efforts and for which funding needs to be increased other it can also cause a resurgence of infections, particularly among high-risk groups. Youth, who form a significant portion of Nagaland’s population, are especially vulnerable in the absence of comprehensive sex education and open dialogue. Any rollback of targeted intervention could destabilize and undo the progress made so far, and which will only push the state further into a public health crisis.
Equally troubling is the corrosion of institutional accountability. Government agencies tasked with HIV prevention and care require consistent intervention and policy direction. Yes, it is not so easy to prioritize considering the many pressing issues confronting Nagaland today. However, health is at the core of the well-being of Nagaland. And so, HIV must continue to be a political priority, so that these institutions remain effective, fully-resourced, and connected with ground realities. As much as possible, the gap between policy and practice needs to be bridged, so that schemes go beyond paper and reach those in need.
The situation also presents an opportunity for renewal. Re-orienting HIV in the political discourse is both necessary and urgent. Leaders must recognize that public health cannot be subject to cycles of attention and neglect. Sustained engagement in awareness campaigns, testing, and treatment programs is essential. More importantly, there must be a deliberate effort to combat stigma through education, community engagement, and inclusive policies. Only through such committed efforts and through the engagement of everyone with an understanding that it is a collective fight, then only there can be progress.
As such, Civil society, too, has a crucial role to play. Collective action needs to be revived and which requires renewed partnerships between government bodies, NGOs, churches, and youth organizations. Media platforms must also take responsibility in keeping the dialogue and conversation alive, ensuring that the fight against HIV is in the right direction.
Ultimately, the fight against HIV is a test of our collective effort as much as for humanity to live meaningfully. It demands empathy, courage, and unwavering commitment. The cost of inaction is too high not just in terms of rising infections, but in the loss of dignity and life. Renewing political attention to HIV is not just about policy; it is about reaffirming a commitment to care, justice, and the well-being of every citizen.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com).
