Five new “Health on Bike” outreach motorbikes to strengthen HIV-related services in Niuland, Tseminyu, Tuensang, Mokokchung - Longchem and Mon – Tobu will be launched on August 12. (Photo Courtesy: NSACS/X)
NSACS to cover 287 villages, 540 schools in intensified HIV awareness drive
Kohima, August 11 (MExN): The Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) will launch the third round of its intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) on August 12, coinciding with International Youth Day, at the Agri Expo in 4th Mile, Chümoukedima.
State Health & Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak will formally inaugurate the two-month initiative, which is being conducted under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), a press release received here stated.
The campaign aligns with NACO’s strategic priorities and the Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) approach, focusing on strengthening HIV and STI awareness, promoting prevention and early testing, addressing stigma and discrimination, and enhancing access to related health services.
The release said the drive will adopt a district-led, data-driven, and result-oriented framework, with all 17 districts empowered to tailor their interventions based on local needs, epidemiological data, and service gaps. Each district will launch its respective campaign on International Youth Day.
Reaching communities across Nagaland
During the two-month campaign, NSACS will conduct 550 village-level meetings across 287 villages, a minimum of 5,500 household door-to-door outreach activities and 540 school outreach sessions.
The campaign will also include 110 folk performances in rural areas, 64 college awareness sessions, 50 urban flash mob activities and 17 special health camps at Government hospitals, covering all 17 districts.
To strengthen digital outreach, particularly among young people, 40 social media influencers will be engaged alongside a dedicated two-month social media campaign. The campaign will also promote the HIV Self-Risk Assessment Tool and BreakFree, providing young people with accessible information and avenues to assess their risk and connect with appropriate HIV and STI services.
The campaign will contribute to the goals of the National AIDS Control Programme, including the 95:95:99 targets, while emphasising the importance of testing, treatment, care and support.
Health on Bike - Reaching the Unreached
A major feature of the launch will be the flagging off of five new “Health on Bike” outreach motorbikes to strengthen HIV-related services in Niuland, Tseminyu, Tuensang, Mokokchung - Longchem and Mon - Tobu. These five bikes will add to the eight Health on Bike motorbikes already provided to eight districts, further expanding outreach to hard-to-reach communities.
The initiative, “Health on Bike - Reaching the Unreached,” will take essential HIV prevention, testing and related services closer to communities where difficult terrain and limited connectivity can restrict access to routine services.
The Minister will also flag off the Intensified IEC Campaign 2026 Bike Rally, with 25 bikers carrying the message of HIV and STI awareness, prevention and solidarity to communities. Similar bike rallies will also be conducted in nine other districts, taking the campaign message across the State.
The launch programme will bring together senior Government and health officials, district administrations, District health programme officers, partner NGOs, community leaders, teachers, students and young people.
The campaign, which will run across the state for the next two months, is built on a three-pronged call to action: moving from awareness to action, from mobilisation to results, and from stigma to solidarity.
