SHILLONG: The Meghalaya state Network for Positive People (MSNP+) has revealed that there are a total number of 68 children in the State who are living with the HIV virus.
In a presentation made during the 31st International Aids Candle Light Memorial at Don Bosco Youth Centre on Sunday, MSNP+ founding member Agui Daimei informed that the cases of children who were infected by HIV virus have been detected at the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centre at Shillong Civil Hospital.
“The children who have been infected by the virus are from various parts of the State including Garo Hills,” Daimei said.
She said that in majority of the cases, the virus transmitted from parents even as admitting that there are quite a number of cases where children belong to parents who are When asked if there are children infected by the virus whose parents who are working in the coal mines, he agreed that there were few cases of children whose parents are working in the coal mines.
Meanwhile, Daimei revealed that there is an interesting case of a nine-year old boy whose is infected by the virus despite both the parents being negative.
“This is a very scary situation. We have not yet been able to detect the reason as to how the boy got the virus,” she said while also informing that the boy is from a remote area.
According to statistics from the ART Civil Hospital as on April 10 this year, she said that there are 1332 cases of PreART (Person Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) who are yet on Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) while there are 651 cases of PLHIV who are on ART.
Earlier, while speaking on the occasion, Jaiaw MDC Adelbert Nongrum exhorted that, “People living with HIV should not feel rejected from the society, and should not kill oneself and each other with ignorance”.
Meanwhile, Laitumkhrah Congress NA War mentioned that, “working for the benefit of the PLHIV is everybody’s resposibilities and that for him and those representing the State (ministers) will take up this issue in the District Councils. He stressed on the need for sensitization for people at different level.”
The event concluded with the Candle lighting ceremony and prayer facilitated by Fr, I Celia, Director – Don Bosco Youth Centre, Laitumkhrah Shillong.
