Saitual Becomes First District in Mizoram to Achieve Surakshit HIV Status
- Saitual has become the first district in Mizoram to achieve Surakshit status under the National AIDS Control Organisation’s Mobilisation AIDS Suraksha campaign, according to an official release issued...
- Under the National AIDS Control Organisation campaign, districts are evaluated against strict public health benchmarks designed to break the chain of HIV transmission.
- Zothanpari Chhakchhuak credited the district achievement to the active backing of Saitual Deputy Commissioner Srinivas Sadi, alongside sustained cooperation from local churches, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders.
Saitual has become the first district in Mizoram to achieve Surakshit status under the National AIDS Control Organisation’s Mobilisation AIDS Suraksha campaign, according to an official release issued on Tuesday. The milestone follows an August assessment showing that the district successfully met all three targets of the globally recognized 95-95-95 HIV control strategy.
Saitual Meets NACO 95-95-95 Targets
Under the National AIDS Control Organisation campaign, districts are evaluated against strict public health benchmarks designed to break the chain of HIV transmission. The 95-95-95 strategy requires that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of individuals on treatment achieve viral load suppression. According to official reports, Saitual cleared all three thresholds during the August review, making it the only district in Mizoram to attain the benchmark so far. The Mobilisation AIDS Suraksha campaign has operated across Mizoram since February, with progress tracked at the district level under the leadership of deputy commissioners. Depending on performance, the campaign classifies districts into three categories. Units meeting none or one target are designated as Sangharshee, while those meeting two are classified as Saksham. Districts achieving all three targets earn Surakshit status, whereas a Surakshit+ rating is reserved for areas that also achieve zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Community Leadership and Antiretroviral Therapy Rollout
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zothanpari Chhakchhuak credited the district achievement to the active backing of Saitual Deputy Commissioner Srinivas Sadi, alongside sustained cooperation from local churches, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders. According to Chhakchhuak, community participation proved essential in expanding local HIV testing access and strengthening public awareness campaigns throughout the district. Maintaining the newly secured status will require ongoing public health efforts, according to local health officials. Chhakchhuak emphasized that sustaining the progress depends on encouraging more residents to undergo testing to determine their status, while urging individuals living with HIV to maintain regular adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Early detection and sustained treatment remain critical components in preventing further infections and solidifying the district standing.
Broader HIV Context Across Mizoram
Data from the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society highlights the broader regional scope of the public health response. Since the state recorded its first HIV case in October 1990, authorities have detected 34,930 positive cases across Mizoram. Of those total cases, the society reported that 6,439 people had died of the disease by July this year. Parallel figures from the state society show that 29,217 patients are officially registered for antiretroviral therapy across Mizoram. Out of that registered total, 26,382 patients have begun receiving the therapy. Public health officials note that expanding these treatment pipelines and keeping viral loads suppressed remain central to halting transmission across all districts.
