Manipur CM honours Imphal West, Pherzawl for HIV/AIDS 'Surakshit' status
Synopsis
For the first time in MACS history, two Manipur districts — Imphal West and Pherzawl — have met the stringent 95-95-95 HIV treatment benchmarks to earn 'Surakshit' status, a signal of real progress in a state that has long carried one of India's highest HIV burdens. CM Khemchand Singh's public felicitation adds political weight to a push to extend the milestone statewide.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh felicitated Imphal West and Pherzawl districts on 6 November 2026 for achieving 'Surakshit' status under NACO's MAS initiative.
This is the first time in the history of MACS that any Manipur district has met the prescribed targets. 'Surakshit' status requires 95% of estimated HIV-positive persons to know their status, 95% of those to be on ART, and 95% of those on ART to have achieved viral suppression.
The felicitation event, 'Sammaan Samaaroh' , was held at the Cabinet Hall, Mantripukhri , organised by MACS .
Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur and other senior officials attended; DC Pherzawl Anunay Anand joined virtually.
The CM urged the Health Department to extend the 'Surakshit' milestone to all remaining districts in the state.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday, 6 November 2026, felicitated Imphal West and Pherzawl districts for becoming the first districts in the state to achieve 'Surakshit' (safe) status under the Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) initiative of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The recognition marks a historic milestone for the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), which is pursuing the global 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets.
The Felicitation Ceremony
The event, titled 'Sammaan Samaaroh', was held at the Cabinet Hall of the Chief Minister's Office, Mantripukhri, and was organised by MACS. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh congratulated both districts and urged officials of the Health Department to work towards extending the same milestone to the remaining districts of the state. He emphasised the need for collective and sustained efforts to strengthen Manipur's response to HIV/AIDS.
What 'Surakshit' Status Means
Commissioner (Health and Family Welfare) and President of MACS, Sumant Singh, described the achievement as the first of its kind in the Society's history. He explained that 'Surakshit' status is awarded to a district when it meets three consecutive benchmarks: 95% of the estimated number of people living with HIV are aware of their status; 95% of those who know their status are receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART); and 95% of those on ART have achieved viral suppression, meaning the virus is effectively controlled in their bodies. These benchmarks align with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 global targets, adopted as the cornerstone of international HIV elimination strategy.
Who Was Recognised
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister felicitated representatives of the Imphal West and Pherzawl district administrations, their respective Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), and the District Integrated Strategy for HIV teams — acknowledging the ground-level work that drove the districts to meet the stringent targets. A formal presentation was made tracing the journey of both districts towards achieving the status.
Key Officials Present
The event was attended by Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur; Project Director, MACS, Anna Arambam; and Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West, Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh. Deputy Commissioner of Pherzawl, Anunay Anand, joined the programme virtually.
Significance for Manipur
Manipur has historically recorded among the highest HIV prevalence rates in India, particularly linked to intravenous drug use along its porous borders. The 'Surakshit' certification of two of its districts under a national framework signals measurable progress in a state that has long grappled with the epidemic. Officials say the target now is to replicate this success across all remaining districts, with the Health Department expected to redouble outreach and testing efforts in the months ahead.
Point of View
An urban district with better health infrastructure, and Pherzawl, a smaller hill district, represent very different epidemiological profiles; that both cleared the bar suggests the model is not dependent on urban advantage alone. The 95-95-95 framework's value lies in its measurability, but Manipur's deeper challenge — intravenous drug use driving transmission along its border corridors — will require interventions well beyond clinical targets. Political visibility at the CM level is a useful accelerant, but sustaining gains in the remaining districts will demand consistent funding and community-level trust, particularly among marginalised populations who often remain outside formal health systems.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Surakshit' status awarded to Manipur districts?
'Surakshit' (safe) status is a certification under NACO's Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) initiative, awarded to districts that meet the 95-95-95 HIV targets: 95% of estimated HIV-positive people know their status, 95% of those are on ART, and 95% of those on ART have achieved viral suppression. Imphal West and Pherzawl became the first districts in Manipur to earn this status, in October 2026.
Why is this milestone significant for Manipur?
Manipur has historically reported among the highest HIV prevalence rates in India, making the 'Surakshit' certification of two of its districts a notable public health achievement. It is also the first time in the history of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) that any district in the state has met these targets.
What are the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets?
The 95-95-95 targets are a global HIV elimination framework: 95% of all people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on sustained ART, and 95% of those on ART achieve viral suppression. Meeting all three benchmarks is considered indicative of effective epidemic control in a region.
Who was felicitated at the 'Sammaan Samaaroh' ceremony?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh felicitated representatives of the Imphal West and Pherzawl district administrations, their Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), and the District Integrated Strategy for HIV teams at the ceremony held at the Cabinet Hall, Mantripukhri, on 6 November 2026.
What happens next for other Manipur districts?
The Chief Minister has urged the Health Department to make concentrated efforts to extend 'Surakshit' status to all remaining districts in the state. No specific timeline has been announced, but the ceremony is intended to serve as a motivational benchmark for other districts to follow.
