The Meghalaya government is sounding the alarm over a worrying surge in HIV/AIDS cases, particularly in East Khasi Hills, where the number of confirmed cases has now doubled to 3,432.
Officials warn that the situation could spiral into a wider public health crisis if not addressed urgently.
Unlike other parts of the North East, where intravenous drug use is a major driver, Meghalaya’s epidemic is primarily driven by unprotected sexual interactions. Concerns have been raised that the actual numbers could be higher, as many citizens may not be coming forward for testing.
A meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today brought together eight MLAs from East Khasi Hills, where the crisis is currently most pronounced. While not all legislators attended, Health Minister Ampareen lyngdoh called it a significant start. The government plans to hold similar district-level consultations, with West Garo Hills expected to host the next meeting under the leadership of the Assembly Speaker.
In East Khasi Hills alone, out of the 3,432 individuals who have tested HIV positive, only 1,581 are currently undergoing treatment. Another 681 individuals have been lost to follow-up, a development health officials say is deeply troubling.
“This is not a good trend. It indicates a potential health emergency that could engulf communities across the state,” Lyngdoh stated during the meeting.
Data on HIV-related deaths underlines the urgency of the situation, with at least 159 recorded in recent years, primarily due to loss of treatment under the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) programme. Lyngdoh stressed that HIV is not a death sentence if treated early, much like tuberculosis or cancer. However, the lack of awareness and fear of stigma continue to prevent many from accessing life-saving treatment.
The state government has resolved to initiate a mission-mode approach to combat the epidemic. The Health Department has been tasked with preparing a cabinet note outlining a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy. This policy will aim to improve testing, treatment access, community engagement and awareness efforts, while involving stakeholders at all levels, including traditional leaders, NGOs and district officials.
Although hotspot areas have been identified, officials have decided against disclosing them to avoid stigmatising specific constituencies. “We will not isolate any area publicly because that could lead to stigma. But let me tell you, the numbers are very high in East Khasi Hills and also in parts of Jaintia Hills,” said the minister.
East and West Jaintia Hills currently have the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state. Health workers in these districts are actively engaging with vulnerable communities, including commercial sex workers, and have launched targeted intervention programmes. Initiatives such as widespread condom distribution have been met with encouraging participation from these communities.
Nationally, Meghalaya follows Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana in HIV prevalence, ranking sixth. Within the North East, Meghalaya is not among the top three but rising trends in key districts are a growing concern.
Officials are also preparing to compare current HIV/AIDS data with previous years, especially the last five, to better understand the trajectory and evaluate gaps in the response. “We will make the comparative numbers available soon, but the trend over the last five years alone is extremely worrying,” Lyngdoh stated.
