Shillong, Oct 7: The State government is preparing to expand HIV treatment and awareness programmes after getting cabinet approval for a five-year plan to combat the disease, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said.
Shylla said the government has received sanction for the plan and is now recruiting additional manpower and opening more Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres.
“I have not really checked the data as of now because I have not asked for it. Right now, we are totally focused on awareness,” he said.
He said expansion of ART centres will allow people living with HIV to access treatment closer to home.
“We are in the process of recruiting more manpower and opening more ART centres where people can come and get treated,” he said.
Shylla said many activities are happening after the launch of the HIV awareness programme.
“I am so happy that after that launch, a lot of activities are happening,” he said.
He added Meghalaya AIDS Control Society is preparing to organise a youth festival to involve young people in the fight against HIV.
