Mizoram has taken its fight against HIV/AIDS to the next level by launching the Love Brigade, a first-of-its-kind campaign which will see taxi drivers and bikers not only to spread awareness about the so-far incurable disease but also easily make available condoms free of cost to passengers and public to help check its spread.

The innovative campaign has a lot to do with the high prevalence of HIV in Mizoram despite it being a small and thinly populated (1.1 mn) state in the country.

Mizoram health and family welfare minister Dr R. Lalthangliana launched the Love Brigade campaign in collaboration with the bike/taxis association and Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) to promote “free love condoms” by distributing them free of cost to their clients in a non-stigma approach while riding with them.

The brigade will also be trained in HIV/AIDS counselling and would give out the details of the free HIV test initiatives of the MSACS and share pamphlets with prevention messages to create awareness among the masses.

Taxi bikers in Aizawl as part of the Love Brigade campaign to mark World AIDS Day on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

To begin with, 500 bike taxi riders and car taxi drivers will be shortlisted and branded as the Love Brigade. The campaign has been actively supported by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation India Cares (AHF).

An official statement said HIV prevalence among adult population between 15-49 years in the state was 2.04 per cent, almost 10 times higher than the national HIV prevalence at 0.22 per cent. With an Annual New HIV infection rate of 1.32 per cent, 20 times higher than the national average of 0.07 per cent — makes it imperative to find a renewed spirit in designing innovative steps to check the disease.

An MSACS official told The Telegraph that the Love Brigade campaign is a continuation of its condom promotion campaign launched in 2017 but with innovative features by involving taxi bikers and drivers to reach out to those who are hesitant to buy condoms from pharmacies.

Another reason to launch brigade is the difference that the condom promotion campaign was making on the ground.

“Though we remain a state with high prevalence, a small dip has been noticed because of condom promotion campaign. According to the HIV estimation by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in 2019, the HIV new infection per 1,000 uninfected population is 1.18 per cent whereas in 2017, the estimation was 1. 32 per cent, which is around 10 per cent declining trend. It is also projected that the new HIV infection will show a declining trend as per available data,” the MSACS official said.

Lalthlengliani, project director, Mizoram State AIDS Control Society MSACS, while highlighting the importance of the Worlds AIDS Day, said the Love Brigade is a unique HIV prevention approach, a first-of-its-kind in the country, which will help “find lasting solutions for stigma reduction especially for free condom protection in our society”.

“Furthermore, the collaboration with Church Youth Leadership will also see a lot of innovations in improving the services for the people infected and affected with HIV in the state in the coming days. Once again it is our duty to remind ourselves that the fight against HIV is not yet won!” said Dr Lalthlengliani.

The campaign was launched at a meeting organised by the MSACS in collaboration with AHF to observe the World AIDS Day 2020 at Dawrpui Multipurpose Hall Aizawl, the theme of which was AIDS: The Other Pandemic.

The organisers said the theme was a reminder to the world that even in times of Covid-19, HIV/AIDS must be kept high on the global public health agenda because it still claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year. With over 8.5 million cases of Covid-19, India has the second highest number of infections in the world.

“With over 8.5 million cases of Covid-19, India has the second highest number of infections in the world.... The impact of the pandemic will be felt across India for generations. This year AHF unveiled a new World AIDS Day theme, ‘AIDS: The Other Pandemic’ as a reminder that each year 690,000 people die of AIDS-related illnesses, including 69,000 in India, therefore we have an obligation to fight both pandemics — it may seem daunting, but so did the early days of AIDS. We have come a long way and be cannot afford to go backwards,” said Dr V. Sam Prasad, country program director, AHF India Cares.

A series of events to check HIV/AIDS will take place between December 1 and 13 to boost the free condom promotion in Mizoram, including online competitions for the youth to develop prevention messages on HIV/AIDS and get maximum shares and likes on social media.