Source: morungexpress.com
Tuensang, September 5 (MExN): An onsite review of HIV programme implementation in Tuensang was conducted from September 2 to 4 “to strengthen the HIV intervention.”
A press release received here stated that the programme was facilitated by Dr Nganshimeren, Project Director of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS). Nganshimeren was accompanied by a host of Programme Officers from Basic Service Division (BSD); Care Support and Treatment; District AIDS Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU); Targeted Intervention (TI); District AIDS Control Officer (Tuensang) and Development Partners (FHI360 and I-Tech India).
During the visit, Targeted Intervention programmes including OST centres, ICTC and ART at Chare, Longkhim, Noklak and Tuensang were visited. Interaction with the staffs of the different facility centres, TI NGOs, OST centres to understand the progress, challenges, gaps in the programme implementation was facilitated by the Project Director. During the visit representatives from Tuensang Drug Users Network also interacted with the officials and highlighted their activities.
It also stated that considering the distance and limited financial resources, through the initiative of NSACS, an induction camp for new OST and ART was conducted on the September 3 at Noklak, by the Nodal ART Doctor and the Lab Technician of ARTC Tuensang along with the LAC staff of Noklak. Through this effort, 21 new individuals were inducted on OST and 24 new individuals who were tested HIV positive earlier but were unable to travel to Tuensang for ART initiation were enrolled on ART during the induction camp, it added.
An Advocacy programme was conducted on HIV and AIDS with Key Stake Holders of Noklak and Thonoknyu Block on the September 3 at Khiamniungan Baptist Churches Association (KBCA) Komking. The meeting was attended by the Block Administration, Khiamniungan Tribal Counci; Tang Range Public Organization; Church Leaders; Student Organization; Women Organization of Noklak Town and Public and Church Leaders from neighboring 15 villages of Noklak and Thonoknyu Block, the release said.
It also stated that the objective of the Advocacy programme was to ensure coordinated effort in addressing HIV and AIDS. To provide comprehensive service to the PLHIV and Drug Users’ communities, up gradation of Link ART Centre at Noklak CHC to full fledge ART centre and from Satellite OST centre to full fledge OST centre was discussed during the meeting. Through the initiative of NSACS the Laboratory at CHC Noklak is under up gradation. NSACS have taken the initiative to calibrate blood analyzer and also provided a refrigerator. With this up gradation, PLHIV community need not travel to Tuensang from Noklak for Baseline investigation before initiating to ART. An encouraging outcome of the meeting was the commitment of KBCA to actively involve in addressing the concern of HIV and AIDS both physically and financially, it said.
The release also added that a debriefing meeting at the conference hall of Medical Superintend (MS) of Tuensang District Hospital was conducted on the last day of the visit. During the meeting the MS and the DACO (Who represented the CMO of Tuensang) were appraised on the observations and suggestions to further improve the HIV program in the district.