HIV awareness as low as 16–17%, one-third of cases linked to substance use
Shillong, Dec 1: In a major impetus to Meghalaya’s fight against HIV/AIDS, the state government has unveiled a Rs 25-crore plan for five years to scale up HIV testing, treatment, and community outreach across the state.
The new initiative, announced by Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on World AIDS Day, positions Meghalaya among the few Indian states that have committed dedicated and long-term funding to transform the HIV response.
In the mission-mode plan, the government will expand testing and treatment centres, strengthen confidentiality protections, intensify community-led interventions, and ramp up year-round awareness campaigns.
One of the priorities of the mission will be stigma reduction — an area officials say remains a critical barrier to early diagnosis and care.
In his address, Shylla called for “unity, compassion and innovation” while emphasising that that HIV is fully treatable and that all services are provided free of cost.
The minister commended the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS), led by Project Director Dr KL Iawbor, and frontline workers for sustaining prevention and care efforts on the ground.
Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Sampath Kumar said there are over 9,000 people currently living with HIV, and more than 900 new detections every year — many identified through active screening.
East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills continue to report the highest burden.
Kumar urged schools and youth groups to become “critical drivers of change” while informing that statewide HIV awareness is still as low as 16–17% and nearly one-third of cases are linked to substance use.
Adding a human dimension to the event, Paul Hrangbung, president of the Meghalaya State Network of Positive People (MSNP), and advocate Agui Deimei shared personal testimonies on living with HIV, underscoring the urgent need for acceptance, confidentiality and non-discrimination within families and communities.
MLAs Ollan Sing Suin, Adelbert Nongrum and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah joined senior health officials including Dr JS Momin, Dr Neela E Kharsahnoh, Dr Lumrilyne Mylliemumlong and Dr Rezina Ch Marak, signalling broad political and departmental support for the mission.
The programme ended with a collective pledge to defeat stigma, strengthen awareness, and ensure that every individual in Meghalaya has access to testing, treatment and care — reinforcing the government’s ambition to make the state HIV-free in the next five years.
