The governing body of the reconstituted Meghalaya Legislators’ Forum on HIV/AIDS has agreed that its members will contribute to people living with HIV from their MLA schemes or discretionary grants.
Additionally, it was decided that all 60 members of the state Assembly should actively participate in the forum, as their support will greatly aid in combating this disease.
In an interaction with the media, Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma lamented that the prevalence of HIV in Meghalaya is higher than the national average.
The Speaker added that in Friday’s meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who is the patron of the forum, stated that the government will be working in a mission mode to reduce the spread of this disease in the state.
The legislators’ forum involves MLAs in combating the disease by raising awareness among the people.
Sangma mentioned that the meeting addressed not only healthcare concerns for people living with HIV but also social, economic, and stigma issues, where legislators can assist people living with HIV/AIDS and integrate them into the mainstream.
“The Chief Minister also suggested that there are already programmes sponsored by the central government and sponsored by the state government, which should not overlap. The Legislators’ Forum will work at a different level where we can see our approach would be slightly different to the regular or the routine works that the AIDS Control Society and the state government are doing,” he added.
Leader of the opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, said that the forum gives MLAs a platform to tackle social stigma related to HIV/AIDS.
Lyngdoh emphasised that legislators can contribute to the cause not only financially but also socially. Drawing inspiration from the Philippines, where the incidence of HIV/AIDS was reduced through the involvement of NGOs, he stated that in Meghalaya, the Seng Samla, Seng Longkmie, and the Dorbar Shnong can play a role in spreading awareness about the disease and ending the stigma.
“The Chief Minister’s suggestion has come at a very crucial time. In the graph, as you have seen in other states, it (HIV/AIDS) has come down and in our state, it is on the rise… More needs to be done and it has to be mission mode. We need a targeted approach on how to reduce the incidence of infection,” Lyngdoh added.
Six agendas were discussed in the meeting – healthcare access, social support programmes, employment and skill development, education and awareness campaigns, nutritional support and legal aid services.
Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and other legislators also attended the meeting.
