The State Oversight Committee (SOC) on Integrated STI, HIV, TB, Hepatitis (ISHTH) Campaign in Prisons & Other Closed Settings (P&OCS) was held on the 2nd May 2023 at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima. The meeting was chaired by Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland & Chairman, NSACS. The modalities and plan of the upcoming campaign were presented by Dr. Bernice D Thapru, Joint Director (Prevention), NSACS while an overview of the HIV & AIDS Scenario in the State was given by Medo Kire, Dy. Director (SIMU), NSACS.

           The SOC meeting was held to discuss and deliberate on the modalities of the upcoming ISHTH campaign which will be carried out in all districts across the state among inmates and clients of prison and other closed settings for screening/testing and linkages to treatment of STI, HIV, TB & Hepatitis.

           The SOC was attended by Principal Director, H&FW, Dr. Vibeituonuo M. Sachu, Mission Director NHM, Dr. Ritu Thurr, Project Director NSACS, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, State TB Officer, Dr. Tiasunep, senior officials of Health & Family Welfare, representatives of Social Welfare Department, Prison Department, Development partners, NGO partners, etc. The ISHTH campaign is scheduled to be launched all over the country on the 15th of May 2023, under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation.

The meeting also deliberated on two more upcoming campaigns, namely, the Integrated Health Camp (IHC) and Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV & Syphilis (EVTHS) campaign for which the presentations were given by Dr. M. Nukshisangla Jamir, Deputy Director (BSD), NSACS.

(DIPR)