DIMAPUR, May 13 � There are 693 children infected with HIV in Nagaland, according to an official statistics as advertised by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS).
Addressing the World AIDS Orphans Day observation as the special guest in Kohima recently social activist Dr Joyce Z Angami said Nagaland does not have complete record about the children affected with HIV/AIDS. However, as per the available records, there are about 825 affected children while 95 of them are under ART (anti-retroviral therapy).
She lamented that there is no support from the Nagaland government or any agencies to look into the welfare of such affected children. Except for providing medicine, the nutrition, consultancy, guidance and shelter are not being catered to, she stated.
However, Dr Joyce maintained that concerned about their plight, the NSACS and other NGOs have come up with a body under the banner of Children Affected With AIDS (CAWA).
She said CAWA would take proper assessment of the children with AIDS in the districts, starting from Dimapur and Kohima.
She, therefore, called upon the general masses to join hands in bringing about the required change in the lives of the affected children as every child is precious.
A special prayer service seeking good health and God�s grace upon 100-odd AIDS orphaned children in the State was held on the World AIDS Orphans Day. The observation was held under the aegis of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and Kohima Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (KNP+).
An outing programme for the children was held at Dimori Cove, Kigwema later.
