The Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) in collaboration with the district administration and other line departments in East Jaiñtia Hills district organised an integrated health campaign at Lad Rymbai Dongwah.
The objective of the campaign is to identify HIV affected people and put them to treatment, to identify and strengthen health system for effective service delivery and also to address stigma and discrimination.
The three-month long campaign is a hybrid model of conducting screening and testing among the general clients and the KPs through health camp based approach and extended outreach. It is conducted in high HIV positivity districts to understand the extend of infection and the drivers of the epidemic to further plan for control through health service strengthening.
Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla attended the campaign as the chief guest today and expressed concern that East Jaintia Hills District is one of the highest HIV prevalence district in the country. She said the campaign is an important initiative to educate and create awareness on HIV and the importance of screening and testing.
She appealed to the gathering to go for screening and testing for HIV to know their status and to not be ashamed as test reports are confidential and will not be disclosed to the public.
Deputy Commissioner, Abhilash Baranwal stated HIV prevalence in the district is very high, “if screening and testing is done for 100 people 2.8 per cent are tested positive for HIV”, he said. He also informed that there are approximately 2500people with HIV in the district which is a partial figure; the actual figure will be more than 4000 people.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed on the need for every individual to get regularly tested because if people know their own HIV Status they will be able to save their own family and the society as a whole.
MSCWA Director Dr J.N. Shullai said that there are diseases and sickness that cannot be easily detected but required thorough screening and testing to diagnose. “It is very important to undergo a thorough testing to know the health status because if a disease/sickness is detected and diagnosed at an early stage the survival rate is higher”, she said. She also urged upon the gathering to take advantage of such Health Camps to avail various health services such as screening and testing for HIV, STD, STI, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis and other common diseases.
Later in the programme, the Deputy Commissioner and other officials got themselves tested first to encourage people.
The health camps conducted at Lad Rymbai Dongwah Community Hall and Lad Rymbai Datsympein Community Hall, Lad Rymbai B, Mooknor Community which saw participation from people of Lad Rymbai area availing the various health services provided at the camp such as screening and testing for HIV, STD, STI, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, screening and treatment for common diseases among others, MHIS enrolment and Aadhaar enrolment were also done at the camp.
