To commemorate with the rest of the world, the Red Ribbon Club of Norman Putsure College, Chumukedima, also observed World AIDS Day on 1st of December, 2023, under the year’s theme “Let Community Lead,” in collaboration with Nagaland State AIDS Control Society.
Based on the objective “Celebrating World AIDS Day with an awareness to overlook the stigma about AIDS,” the Nodal Officer, Dr. Esther Hau, addressed that this World AIDS Day is a celebration but more so, a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles. The speaker also highlighted that many obstacles were obstructing the end of AIDS, and communities are being held back from lending a helping hand because of the stigmas.
The address concluded on an optimistic note, with the statement that the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 (Source: World AIDS Report, 2023), but that can happen only if communities are fully included and sufficiently funded from governments and donors to lead the way. The celebration concluded with students taking part in the display of placards and receiving small, yet significant gifts given by NSACS, Kohima.