Shillong, Feb 26: Meghalaya AIDS Control Society is hosting the Red Fest – The North East Multimedia Campaign (NEMMC) under the theme- North East United Against HIV/AIDS at Lariti Centre for Performing Arts, Mawkasiang, on February 28.
The Red Fest will witness more than 2500 participants including senior officials from different departments at the state level, youth, community members, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. Dr Joram Beda, Commissioner & Secretary and Dr. Anoop Kr. Puri, the Deputy Director General NACO will grace the event.
The bands and artists who are going to perform during the ‘Red Fest The North East Multimedia Campaign’ are Lenzing Domingo & Band from Arunachal Pradesh; Chali and the Band from Mizoram; Moko Koza from Nagaland; Pillow Records from Tripura; Toxic Pony from Meghalaya; Voodoo Child from Assam; Aloke Y from Nagaland; 1 BHK from Manipur; Girish and the Chronicles from Sikkim and Summersalt from Meghalaya.
As per the epidemiological significance of Northeastern states based on the behaviour of HIV epidemic, it is reflected that the data from IBBS 2014-15 and estimations 2022, the states of Mizoram (Prevalence: 2.34%), Nagaland (Prevalence: 1.34%%) and Manipur (Prevalence: 0.94%) have one of the highest adult HIV prevalence. Meghalaya stands at 0.39%.
North East Multi-Media Campaign spearheaded by NACO aims to utilize the power of music to educate and empower communities in the fight against HIV. NACO recognizes the importance of reaching young people in innovative ways. Music has the ability to take us beyond boundaries and resonate with audiences on a deep emotional level. By incorporating music into our awareness campaign, they hope to initiate meaningful conversations and bring out a positive change. The campaign has focused on various multimedia platforms including social media, radio, TV and outdoor mediums (hoardings, posters, banners etc.) to inform and educate masses across the region.
Initially, the intra-state competitions are held in each state and then a state level winner is announced through an open competition. All eight North Eastern States then come together at a common platform to carry forward the theme of #NorthEastUnitedAgainstAIDS by bringing across either the winning or one of the most famous bands from their respective states and help spread messages related to HIV.-AIDS.
The very core of the NEMMC is to enhance the social response and to promote an all inclusive approach for people who are living with HIV and are therefore marginalised due to lack of knowledge.
Attractions:
Performances by various artists from all North East states.
Several informative stalls with IEC material by different State AIDS Control Societies and Development Partners along. The stalls will also have a lot of goodies and giveaway material to attract the visiting crowd.
A mobile ICTC van for HIV screening available at the venue.
Key outcomes of North East Multi Media Campaign
The campaign will result in direct empowerment of youth in the states on issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, gender, effective communication, and condom promotion.
The youth clubs participating in the Red Fest would sustain the effort by dissemination of their learning to their peers through sustained Peer Education Programme.
Active involvement of People Living with HIV & AIDS (PLHA) in the campaign will not only result in better understanding of their issues among the general population but will also help in collective community action against any discriminatory acts in the community, commonly being observed at present.
It will also result into better uptake of services, improved risk perception and reduction of high-risk activities among youth.
The campaign also aims at better community interactions leading to enhanced social support for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
