The Grand Finale of the Red Ribbon Quiz Competition was held at Tetso College, Sovima, Chümoukedima, on October 31, 2025. The event, organized by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is a national-level event focusing on HIV awareness and youth health education. Students representing the four regional zones—Manipur, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Kerala—participated as finalists, having emerged victorious in earlier rounds.
V. Hekali Zhimomi, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, NACO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, graced the occasion as the Special Guest. She described the event as not merely a competition but as a celebration of knowledge and compassion, highlighting the youth as both the future and the present drivers of change against HIV AIDS. She stated that awareness, empathy and informed action are the most powerful tools in the fight against HIV AIDS and in building a healthier society and a healthier nation. While acknowledging India's progress in its HIV response, in terms of reducing new infections, expanding access to treatment and strengthening care and support systems, she stressed the ongoing need to reach the vulnerable populations, including young people.
Zhimomi said that health is not built in hospitals alone but it is built in conversations, in classrooms, in families and in the communities and urged a shift from stigma to solidarity and from silence to dialogue. She also highlighted the impactful work done by NACO through the Adolescent Education Program and the Red Ribbon Clubs, reaching over 68,000 schools across the country and establishing more than 15,000 clubs in colleges to promote awareness, voluntary blood donations and promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. She expressed her wish for this event to be the start of a lifelong commitment to learning and leadership, aiming to build a future where every young person has the knowledge to make informed choices and live with dignity and hope.
Director NACO, Bharti Sahai, in her speech congratulated all the participants for their efforts. She said that each individual has the power to make a difference by normalising conversations about sensitive topics, challenging myths and supporting those who need understanding. She encouraged all the students and the participants to return back to their states and colleges with the message that awareness is the first step towards prevention and compassion is the first step towards healing and that the goal is for a future where every person in India lives with dignity, accesses information without fear and supports others without prejudice.
The Quiz competition concluded with Telangana emerging as the champion, securing a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees along with a trophy. Manipur claimed the first runner-up position, receiving ₹75,000 and a trophy, while Kerala took the second runner-up title, winning ₹50,000 with a trophy.
Earlier, Project Director, NSACS, Dr. Ahu Sekhose delivered the welcome address and vote of thanks was given by Deputy Director, NACO, Dr. Bhawna Rao.
(Samuel, IA, Chumoukedima)
