‘23 HIV-positive detected in the district’

From Our Correspondent

Nongpoh, Jan 9: The extensive integrated health camp of Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) in Ri-Bhoi concluded here on Tuesday.
The campaign was launched by MACS in collaboration with the district administration of Ri Bhoi, the office of the district medical & health officer Ri-Bhoi, and various line departments.
Nongpoh MLA and also Chairman of the Meghalaya State Health Advisory Board, Mayralborn Syiem was the chief guest while other dignitaries were also present on the last day of the ptogramme.
Assistant Director (Prevention) MACS, Dr. E Hujon provided an overview of the integrated health campaign in Ri-Bhoi and its objectives. She highlighted that the campaign aimed to raise awareness about various health issues, including HIV, AIDS, TB, and non-communicable diseases, and also facilitated the enrollment of Aadhaar and MHIS.
‘Throughout the district, a total of 181 camps were organized, comprising 51 static camps and 130 extended outreach programmes. Impressively, 12,282 beneficiaries availed themselves of the health campaign services, seeking check-ups for various diseases and health-related concerns’.
She further revealed that a significant aspect of the campaign was the screening for HIV, with 6,871 beneficiaries undergoing testing. ‘Alarmingly, 23 individuals were detected as HIV positive, comprising 7 from static camps and 16 from extended outreach programmes’.
Mayralborn Syiem expressed gratitude to MACS for selecting Ri Bhoi for the vital initiative, considering its status as one of the aspirational districts in the country.
He emphasized the vulnerability of the district due to its proximity to Assam, acting as a gateway connecting several states in Northeast India. Syiem stressed the importance of creating awareness about HIV/AIDS and early detection, citing the district’s high mobility, daily wage laborers, and industrial presence. The day concluded with the distribution of recognition awards to various medical teams, NGO and partner organizations, link workers from SURE, SETU, SACS field teams, and government line departments such as Social Welfare, BDO, MHIS, Aadhaar, DDU-GVK, among others.