It was more of a coincidence that when this newspaper decided to publish the story ‘AIDS, Rock Music and the Message’ with its focus on rock themed music events and putting across some of the viewpoints whether this was creating awareness, the District AIDS Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU), Dimapur made the startling disclosure that every month, there are 50-60 new cases of HIV/AIDS been reported in Dimapur and that 80% of the HIV/AIDS cases are through the sexual route. Going by the hard figures at hand (taking the case of the commercial hub of Dimapur) one can conclude quite obviously that promiscuity among the Nagas is on the rise and that there is a new found sexual freedom breaking through the moral argument that sex before marriage is a taboo or that sex after marriage should be confined to your husband or wife. While, it would be unfair to blame any particular programme or campaign, nevertheless the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nagaland should take into account this new reality and work out appropriate strategy to ensure that the spread of this disease is controlled. As far as the multi-media campaign to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS through music goes, this newspaper is fully in support of this endeavor and we consider this a part of the overall strategy especially when it comes to connecting with the youth.
However we should also not close our eyes to the reality of the fact that “the open and carefree environments that music and entertainment offer, could give our youths even greater opportunity to use alcohol and socialize even more freely” and that “they are more vulnerable to risky behavior”. One may describe this as an ‘adrenaline rush’. And while music will definitely draw our Naga youths in large numbers, education in schools and colleges still remains the best option to create awareness and drive home the message. And once young people and their thinking are educated on prevention and safe behavior, they will be in a better position to act with caution outside the home, school or the world at large. The fact remains that a strategy of prevention will continue to remain crucial to ensure that HIV/AIDS does not go out of control whatever may be the claims and counterclaims of approach ‘A’ or ‘B’. In the long term, awareness and education will remain the most effective tool to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS whether they come through school, church or a concert. In this regard schools and colleges i.e. the NBSE and NU should be encouraged to include HIV/AIDS related topics in the syllabus as this will go a long way in contributing towards education and awareness.
Definitely, the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) is doing a good job through its various initiatives and the ongoing multi-media campaign is a creative and innovative way to reach out to young people through music—a medium that identifies with all youths. Whether to continue having rock themed music events to spread awareness is something that will have to be decided in the overall context of our own situation. But obviously the important thing to do would be to do periodical appraisal of programmes so that necessary midcourse correction can be done. Here we welcome the suggestion made by Dr N. Nicky Kire, Advisor Music Task Force for inclusion of people living with HIV as ambassador/s for this particular campaign. The organizers could incorporate this suggestion even at this stage as this will not only strengthen the awareness campaign but the message and testimony of such people will touch the heart and mind of many more people. And that is what we need—to open our eyes to the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
However we should also not close our eyes to the reality of the fact that “the open and carefree environments that music and entertainment offer, could give our youths even greater opportunity to use alcohol and socialize even more freely” and that “they are more vulnerable to risky behavior”. One may describe this as an ‘adrenaline rush’. And while music will definitely draw our Naga youths in large numbers, education in schools and colleges still remains the best option to create awareness and drive home the message. And once young people and their thinking are educated on prevention and safe behavior, they will be in a better position to act with caution outside the home, school or the world at large. The fact remains that a strategy of prevention will continue to remain crucial to ensure that HIV/AIDS does not go out of control whatever may be the claims and counterclaims of approach ‘A’ or ‘B’. In the long term, awareness and education will remain the most effective tool to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS whether they come through school, church or a concert. In this regard schools and colleges i.e. the NBSE and NU should be encouraged to include HIV/AIDS related topics in the syllabus as this will go a long way in contributing towards education and awareness.
Definitely, the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) is doing a good job through its various initiatives and the ongoing multi-media campaign is a creative and innovative way to reach out to young people through music—a medium that identifies with all youths. Whether to continue having rock themed music events to spread awareness is something that will have to be decided in the overall context of our own situation. But obviously the important thing to do would be to do periodical appraisal of programmes so that necessary midcourse correction can be done. Here we welcome the suggestion made by Dr N. Nicky Kire, Advisor Music Task Force for inclusion of people living with HIV as ambassador/s for this particular campaign. The organizers could incorporate this suggestion even at this stage as this will not only strengthen the awareness campaign but the message and testimony of such people will touch the heart and mind of many more people. And that is what we need—to open our eyes to the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
