Shillong, Nov 24: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Friday chaired the first meeting of the governing body of the reconstituted Meghalaya Legislator’s Forum on HIV/AIDS at the Conference Room of Pinewood Hotel in Shillong.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who is also the Chief Patron of the Meghalaya Legislator’s Forum on HIV/AIDS, Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, Health Minister Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh, Opposition Leader Ronnie V Lyngdoh, and legislators attended the meeting.

Positive deliberations were held in the Meghalaya Legislators’ Forum on HIV & Aids.

The figures presented today on HIV & AIDS patients in the state is very alarming and therefore, efforts are being made through Government agencies for preventative measures, promotion of… pic.twitter.com/0U27sks3RE

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) November 24, 2023

Six agendas in connection with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) were discussed in the meeting; Healthcare Access; Social Support Programs; Employment and Skill Development; Education and Awareness Campaigns; Nutritional Support and Legal Aid Services.

The Speaker, in his press interaction, stated that the legislator’s forum on HIV/AIDS involves legislators in combating the disease by raising awareness among the people.

He mentioned that the meeting addressed not only healthcare concerns for PLHIV but also social, economic, and stigma issues, where legislators can assist people living with HIV/AIDS and integrate them into the mainstream.

He informed that legislators of the state have agreed to contribute from their schemes or discretionary grants to assist PLHIV. Additionally, in the meeting, it was decided that all 60 members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly should actively participate in the forum, as their support will greatly aid in combating this disease.

He, however, lamented that the prevalence of HIV in Meghalaya is higher than the national average. He also shared that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has announced that the government will be working in mission mode to reduce the spread of this disease in Meghalaya.

“Honourable Chief Minister also suggested that there are already programmes sponsored by the central government, sponsored by the state government which should not be overlapping. Legislators Forum will work on a different level where we can see our approach would be slightly different to the regular or the routine works that the AIDS Control Society and the state government are doing,” the Speaker said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, expressed that through the Meghalaya Legislator’s Forum on HIV/AIDS, legislators can work on raising more awareness to tackle social stigma. He emphasized that legislators can contribute to the cause not only financially but also socially. Drawing inspiration from the Philippines, where incidents of HIV/AIDS were reduced through the involvement of various Non-Government Organizations, he stated that in Meghalaya, the Seng Samla, Seng Longkmie, and the Dorbar Shnong can play a role in spreading awareness about the disease and ending the stigma against PLHIV.

“The Chief Minister’s suggestion has come at a very crucial time. In the graph, as you have seen in other states, it (HIV/AIDS) has come down and in our state, it is on the rising… more needs to be done and it has to be mission mode, we need a targeted approach on how to reduce the incidence of infection,” the Opposition Leader said.

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