Meghalaya has a higher than average prevalence of HIV/AIDS compared to the rest of the country, with East Jaintia Hills with the highest percentages in the state.
Meghalaya’s prevalence rate is 0.40 per cent, higher than the national average of 0.21 per cent, Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) project director Dr Bethabara Decruse said at a press conference here today.
Meghalaya is not unusual in the North East in this, as the other regional states also have higher than average prevalence rates.
Jaintia Hills faces the biggest issue with HIV, with West Jaintia Hills leading in terms of absolute numbers, while East Jaintia Hills’ percentage is higher as it has a smaller population overall.
Dr Decruse said that the main cause of transmission in rural areas is through sexual intercourse while the biggest cause of transmission in urban areas is through injecting illegal drugs.
The press conference was called to inform that MACS will host the fifth Red Fest, a multimedia campaign, under the title ‘North East United against HIV/AIDS’ on February 28 at the Lariti Centre for Performing Arts.
The Red Fest will witness more than 2,500 participants, including senior officials from different departments at the state level, community members, civil society, etc, and will include performances by various artists and bands.
