Shillong, Aug 17: Prevalence of HIV in Meghalaya among the adult population is on the higher side as compared to the national average, according to the Project Director of Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS), Dr B Decruse.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the two-days Rock the Ribbon Youth Festival 2023 held at the State Central Library here, Dr Decruse informed that the prevalence of HIV among the adult population at the national level is estimated at 0.21 percent while in Meghalaya it stands at 0.39 percent.
The two-day Rock the Ribbon Youth Festival 2023 organized by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) held at the State Central Library began on Thursday.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the different colleges in East Khasi Hills district. The students from different colleges will be taking part in the Rock Band Performance and various competitions during the two days.
The MACs had organised similar events East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills district .
Similar programme will be organised for Ri-Bhoi, West Khasi Hills and the districts in Garo Hills region in the coming weeks.
The various activities which will be held during these two days include Khasi traditional singing competition, drama competition, marathon, quiz, beat boxing, face painting and paint ball.
The winner of the various competitions will compete at the state level. The winners from the state level will present Meghalaya in the competition to be held at the national level.
MACs project director said that the objective to hold this youth fest was to create awareness among the youth since they constitute 31 percent of HIV AIDs burden in the country.
According to him, they are targeting the youth since they are a more vulnerable population to be infected by HIV especially among the Injecting Drugs Users (IDUs).