Health Minister Graces North-East Multimedia Campaign (Red Fest) 2026 in Aizawl

Aizawl, February 6: The North-East Multimedia Campaign (Red Fest) 2026, jointly organised by the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), was held on Thursday at LPS Arena, Falkland, in Aizawl.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii. (Image: DIPR Mizoram)

Mizoram Minister for Health and Family Welfare Lalrinpuii attended the programme as Chief Guest, while Chief Secretary Pu Khilli Ram Meena chaired the event. The programme brought together Project Directors and officials from State AIDS Control Societies of all North-Eastern states, along with senior officials from NACO.

Addressing the gathering, Lalrinpuii said the Red Fest is a crucial initiative to generate awareness on HIV/AIDS across the North East, particularly among young people. She said the campaign seeks to promote healthy lifestyles, encourage HIV risk-free behaviour, ensure access to treatment for those affected, and eliminate stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Emphasising prevention, the minister reiterated the importance of the ABC approach - abstinence as the best method, being faithful to a single partner, and responsible use of condoms.

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Expressing concern over the continued high HIV prevalence in the North-Eastern region, the minister said collective efforts by the states reflect a shared commitment to preventing further spread of the virus. She added that with sustained unity, hope and dedication, controlling HIV/AIDS in the region is an achievable goal. She also thanked the Project Directors and organisers for their commitment in making the campaign successful.

In his welcome address, Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena said stigma and discrimination remain major barriers preventing people from coming forward for HIV testing and treatment. He stressed the need for empathy, awareness and collective responsibility to build a society where people living with HIV can live with dignity and equal opportunity.

Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department Pi K. Lalrinzuali presented mementos to Project Directors of participating states and representatives of NACO.

The North-East Multimedia Campaign (Red Fest) has been organised annually since 2018, with the first edition hosted in Nagaland. This year marked Mizoram’s turn to host the event. Awareness activities through music and multimedia were conducted with participation from all eight North-Eastern states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Exhibition stalls set up by the State AIDS Control Societies showcased educational materials on HIV awareness, while the programme featured intensive preventive education for youth, musical performances by artists from across the region, and cultural presentations highlighting the diverse traditions of the North East. The event was also live-streamed on the MSACS YouTube channel.