Shillong, August 12: Meghalaya Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Wednesday launched the State Intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on HIV/AIDS, emphasising that early diagnosis, timely treatment and regular medical care can enable people living with HIV to lead healthy and dignified lives.
The campaign was launched during the International Youth Day 2026 celebration at Lady Keane College Hall in Shillong. It is being implemented by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS).
Health and Family Welfare Secretary Barnari Mawlong, Commissioner and Secretary Dr Joram Beda, Joint Director of Health Services and MACS Project Director Dr K.L. Lawbor, along with other officials and participants, attended the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Shylla said HIV should no longer be regarded as a “death sentence”, as effective medicines and treatment are now available to help people living with the virus maintain their health and quality of life.
However, he expressed concern over the continuing stigma, discrimination and fear surrounding HIV, which he said prevent many people from getting tested or seeking treatment despite medicines being provided free of cost at designated treatment centres.
“Living with HIV should never mean losing one’s dignity. People should not be afraid to get tested, and HIV should never be treated as a source of shame,” the minister said.
Shylla urged young people to become agents of change by spreading accurate information and challenging misconceptions about HIV/AIDS.
He said the fight against HIV is not merely a health issue but also a fight for awareness, responsibility, dignity and the future of the younger generation.
According to the minister, more than 19,000 people living with HIV have been registered in Meghalaya. He stressed that the figure should not be viewed merely as a statistic, as every person represents an individual life, a family and a personal struggle.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening its response to HIV/AIDS, Shylla said efforts would be made to ensure that no person living with HIV is left behind.
As part of this commitment, the Health Department has prepared a five-year action plan with an estimated expenditure of ₹25 crore, involving an annual allocation of approximately ₹5 crore.
The two-month IEC campaign will take messages on HIV prevention, testing, treatment and stigma reduction to communities across Meghalaya. The campaign is expected to cover nearly 1,000 villages, 300 schools and 85 colleges, besides organising community programmes and operating 16 specialised information centres.
The minister said the success of the campaign should not be measured simply by the number of programmes conducted, but by the meaningful change in public awareness, attitudes and behaviour towards HIV prevention, testing, treatment and people living with HIV.
He called for a collective effort involving government agencies, educational institutions, communities and young people to build a more informed and supportive society where people can seek HIV testing and treatment without fear or stigma.
