Bands lineup ready for grand finale
ZIRO, Nov 24: The zonal-level competition for the 9th edition of the multimedia campaign (MMC) on HIV ended here in Lower Subansiri district on Saturday.
The campaign had begun in Lohit HQ Tezu on 12 November.
The bands Down Town, Dormant, Holi Guns, and Dreamescape have qualified from Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, and Zone 4, respectively, for the grand finale, to be held in Itanagar on 1 December. The band Reloaded also made it to the grand finale.
Guest band Megh, emerging artists from the state, and YouTuber Lenzing Doming will also perform during the grand finale.
The winner of the grand finale will become the goodwill ambassador of the APSACS, and will represent the state in the Northeast regional level competition to be held in Imphal, Manipur, on 18 December.
All eight northeastern states will compete in the NEMMC.
APSACS Deputy Director (IEC) Tashor Pali informed that the MMC on HIV/AIDS is specifically targeted at the youths.
“This campaign is for the youth, of the youth and by the youth. It is the youth that forms the band. It’s the youth that write lyrics on HIV and compose music on HIV and perform the song on HIV during the course of competition,” Pali said.
APSACS Assistant Director (M&E), Koj Tara, urged the people to create awareness on HIV, “which anyone can do.”
Attending the programme, Ziro EAC Bamin Tarin advised the youths to stay safe and avoid high-risk practices. “HIV has become a major issue because of the stigma attached to the disease,” he said, and asked people not to discriminate against people living with HIV.
Tarin commended the effort of the NACO and the APSACS to address the issue of HIV/AIDS through music.
Lower Subansiri DMO Dr Tage Kano in his address stressed on the preventive aspect of HIV/AIDS. “Though the disease is manageable like any other chronic diseases, there is no definite cure; therefore its prevention become even more important,” he said.
“This year, the MMC is collaborating with other vertical programmes like the Drug Control Society of AP, the SBTC, the RNTCP, the NTCP, the NCD, the CMAAY and mental health,” the APSACS stated in a release on Sunday.
