State Launching Program of Integrated STI, HIV, TB, Hepatitis (ISHTH) Campaign in Prison & Other Closed Settings (P&OCS) was launched at the Director of Prison Headquarter, Kohima on 20th July 2023.
While highlighting the Campaign, Jt. Director, (Prevention), NSACS, Dr. Bernice D. Thapru mentioned that the intensive campaign has been necessitated nationally because of the prevailing HIV epidemic which has been observed in prisons and closed settings in India and that Nagaland ranks as the 3rd highest in the country. She also said that the Campaign will focus on comprehensive health camps which will include basic testing. The camps will comprise of medical teams where general health check-up will be made available and in addition to that they will conduct major screening tests for HIV, syphilis, TB and Hepatitis (B&C). Dr. Bernice further said that the campaign will focus on post linkages for treatment is ensured for all clients who have been confirmed with such diseases. There are 7 (seven) prisons across the State which started this particular campaign today, she added. Other closed settings which includes Social Welfare facilities like, Ujjwala Home, Sakhi One Stop Centre etc, which are privately run or governmental run, will be facilities that the campaign will cover. She also said that the campaign will be evaluated by Niti Aayog through an app and the reporting will be for monitoring purpose without disclosing private information about clients. The campaign is mainly to find the intensity of the problem of the epidemic and to strategize on interventions which will not leave out the particular group of population.
While addressing the gathering, Director General (DG) of Prison, Renchamo P. Kikon, IPS said that there is a need of a holistic approach to tackle such diseases, particularly HIV. He said that sustained effort to such campaigns is much required to bring significant changes among the inmates and prisoners and prisons should be a reformative institution for them. He also mentioned that there is an extreme need to sensitize not only the prison officials but officials of the required departments such as social and welfare department and medical department. He emphasised on training and capacity building of all the officials and until and unless they are aware of what the campaign is about, they will not be able to convince the inmates to come forward. He also requested the concerned departments to help increase the number of pharmacies in the prisons. He hoped that the campaign will help with the eradication of HIV not only in the State but across the country.
Kikon released IEC Materials for the ISHTH Campaign and also launched the Health Camp at the District Jail.
The program was jointly organised by Department of Prisons, Department of Social Welfare & Nagaland State AIDS Control Society.
(Takumpula, IA)
