241 people living with HIV in East Jaintia Hills while 350 in Shillong & 293 in Jowai

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 20, 2022

With objective of tracing people living with HIV in order to bring them back to Antiretroviral Therapy Treatment (ART) in East Jaintia Hills District, a specially designed project entitled the Lost to Follow Up (LFU) Tracking/ Tracing Drive has been launched on Wednesday.

The drive was launched at the VC room of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat by Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal, IAS.

In his address, Baranwal informed that there are 241 people living with HIV who have fallen out of ART Treatment.

He also said that the objective of the Lost to Follow Up (LFU) Tracking/ Tracing Drive is to ensure that all 241 people are brought back into continuous and regular ART treatment and to simultaneously test their immediate family members, spouse and children to find out their status as well.

“The Drive will also create awareness among the public that through the help of the ART treatment a person who is infected with HIV can also live a normal life and also to prevent stigmatization against them,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner informed that the total cost of the project is Rs. 3.5 Lakh to 4 Lakh and it is arranged through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

He added that the ART treatment is now available at Khliehriat Civil Hospital.

The project will be implemented by the Meghalaya State Network of Positive People (MSNP+).

Barry L Kharmalki, Project Assistant, AHANA briefed about the Lost to Follow Up (LFU) Tracking/ Tracing Drive (Finding the Missing Links Project), which is a 3 months project to track and find 241 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the district who are out of treatment to reinitiate them back into treatment that will help in reducing the spread of HIV infection in the district and decrease the risk of opportunistic infection and illness.

He also said that the outcome of the drive is to expand positive prevention activities by testing immediate family members, spouse, and children, linkage of spouse and children if detected positive, linkage to social protection schemes and ensure the PLHIV well-being and reduce mortality among PLHIV.

The Project Assistant, AHANA also informed that there will be 3 (three) tracers who will be trained by the MSNP+, so as to also ensure that confidentiality of the people living with HIV is maintained.

Speaking to reporter, he disclosed that people living with HIV who stopped treatment as of June 2022 besides 241 in East Jaintia Hills there are 293 in West Jaintia Hills while East Khasi Hills with 350 and 60 in Ri Bhoi 66. He added that South West Khasi Hills has 14, West Khasi Hills with 54 and Garo Hills with 10 besides others 20.

The programme was attended by F Wann, MCS, EAC, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, Ajoy Lanong, Assistant Director for Mainstreaming Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, Agui Daimai, Co-Founder of Meghalaya State Network of Positive People (MSNP+), Iada Wriah, Assistant Director, Care Support and Treatment, Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) among others.

It may also mention that if there are people who have fallen out of treatment and want to get back into the treatment and support system they can contact the Project Coordinator, Barry L Kharmalki at this Phone number. +91 8732015954 (confidentiality will be maintained).