Shillong, Sept. 15 -- Meghalaya's HIV prevalence stands at 0.40 per cent, twice the national average of 0.20 per cent, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Tuesday.
Chairing the first meeting of the Meghalaya State Council on AIDS, Sangma said, HIV/AIDS remains a serious public health challenge for Meghalaya and requires a coordinated, whole-of-society response.
"Since 2010, new infections have increased by 58.74 per cent, equivalent to nearly seven cases detected every day. We currently have 618 HIV cases, including 60 pregnant women living with HIV," he said.
While AIDS-related deaths have declined by 61.18 per cent since 2010, only 77.2 per cent of people living with HIV are on treatment, Sangma said.
Noting that Meghalaya's biggest ...