Kohima, May 15 (MExN): The Network of Naga People Living with HIV and AIDS (NNP+) and ARK (Access to Rights and Knowledge) Foundation today appealed to the people of Nagaland to join the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2021 at 6:30 pm on May 16.
The memorial will be held in memory and mark of respect of friends and families who died of HIV as well as to express solidarity towards the cause of HIV in the State, informed a press release from ARK Foundation President, Ketho Angami.
The day resonates with our perennial theme, “We Remember. We Take Action. We Live Beyond HIV!” it said.
“Lighting the candle signifies our remembrance and honouring them and those who dedicated their lives to helping people living with and affected by HIV,” the release added, quoting Lanu Aier, President, NNP+.
People living with HIV started the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in 1983 and since then there have been thousands of events organized across the world by community-based organisations.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, the collective group are appealed the citizens of to light the candles at their respective place and kept them burning for a brief moment while offering a minute of silence in respect and to honour the departed souls.
The organisers further requested those observing to voluntarily share their pictures via WhatsApp @ +918974545505, which will be further shared across relevant social media platforms for public awareness.
HIV-AIDS related deaths in Nagaland
According to the release, since the detection of the first HIV case detection in the year 1990 in Nagaland, the virus has continued to spread rapidly amongst all sections of the society.
A total of 2187 have succumbed to AIDS-related illness in Nagaland despite the many efforts invested by NGOs, Govt and all sections of the society, it said.
Citing National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) HIV estimation 2019, it noted that there was an adult prevalence of 1.45% in the state. As per the NACO’s HSS Technical Report 2019, the general population prevalence rate was 1.66%, it added.
