KOHIMA: With 67 more HIV cases registered in Dimapur in January, the total registered number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Nagaland stands at close to 12,500 with Dimapur alone accounting for more than 4,000 cases.
In an effort to sensitise the local leaders and public on the menace of HIV/AIDS, Akimbo Society, supported by Legislators’ Forum on AIDS-Nagaland, organised an advocacy programme on HIV/AIDS with the theme “Together we fight” at Burma Camp in Dimapur yesterday where it was informed that the battle against HIV/AIDS in the tiny state of Nagaland is far from over as though the prevalence rate has officially dropped to 0.78 per cent since December 2010.
While HIV infection through drug injection has climbed down to 3.5 per cent, transmission through sexual route has gone up to 89 per cent in Nagaland.
In the programme former Nagaland Chief Minister and sitting Congress MLA K L Chishi, as Chief Guest and Project Manager, Australian International Health Institute (AIHI), Dr Joyce and Medical Officer, ART Centre Dimapur, Dr Hutoka were present as resource persons.
Mr Chishi said, one should never hate or discriminate those persons affected with HIV/AIDS.
Dr Joyce who spoke on the theme “Together we fight” underscored that the first step to combat HIV/AIDS is the responsibility of every individual, irrespective of status or social standing,
Dr Hutoka informed “HIV/AIDS cases in Dimapur according to records is increasing and attributed the causes to ignorance and carelessness.
He said the most affected groups included prostitutes, drivers, homosexuals, migrants and even police personnel.
RBI to organise banking awareness programme: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), along with the Orchid Foundation Guwahati will organise a Banking Awareness programme at Dimapur on February 13.
According to sources here, the RBI ombudsman will conduct the programme at the Delhi Public School at Dimapur, where Mongkum Jamir, the Managing Director of Symbios Ltd will be the Chief Guest.
Parents, senior students and teachers of the school shall attend the programme, sources said.
Austrian Cultural Forum to perform in Dimapur: The Austrian Cultural Forum in collaboration with the Nagaland Department of Art and Culture and the Hope Centre for Excellence is going to organise a musical concert for the first time at Dimapur on February 18.
According to sources here today award winning Austrian composer, musician and trained percussionist Lukas Ligeti would play marimba lumina, a kind of giant xylophone, with the help of computers and create contemporary music.
An electronic percussion instrument instrument, marimba lumina is designed by the legendary California-based engineer Don Buchla. (UNI)