Itanagar, Oct 4: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has voiced concern over the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS in the state, urging stronger measures to curb its spread.

Chairing the third meeting of the State Council on AIDS (SCA) on Friday at the CM’s Office, Niti Vihar, Khandu reviewed the current HIV/AIDS scenario and the steps being taken to contain the disease. The meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge and senior government officials.

“Recent data shows that transmission of HIV/AIDS through infected needles (66.55%) is significantly higher than through unprotected sex (30.55%). This highlights the urgent need to address drug abuse alongside HIV prevention,” Khandu said.

Health Minister Wahge informed that the council resolved to intensify awareness on HIV and substance abuse, strengthen the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and foster a united, multi-sectoral response to the crisis.

According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Mizoram (2.73%) and Nagaland (1.37%) continue to report the highest HIV adult prevalence rates in the country. In comparison, Arunachal Pradesh’s prevalence rate stands at 0.25% — still above the national average of 0.20%.

NACO data also shows that the prevalence in other Northeastern states — Manipur (0.87%), Meghalaya (0.43%), and Tripura (0.37%) — remains higher than the national figure.

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