Meghalaya is set to intensify its fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with the launch of the Intensified IEC Campaign 3.0. The two-month statewide campaign, which will be launched on Wednesday, will focus on young people, early testing, treatment, and reducing stigma surrounding the disease.
The campaign comes amid concerns over the continuing HIV burden in the state and the social barriers that often discourage people from undergoing testing or seeking treatment. According to data compiled by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society in November 2025, more than 10,000 people, including nearly 500 children, had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the state. East Jaintia Hills has emerged as a major area of concern, with Meghalaya’s adult HIV prevalence remaining significantly above the national average.
The campaign will seek to take awareness activities beyond conventional messaging by reaching communities through educational institutions, villages, and digital platforms. Its target groups include adolescents and young people, students, pregnant women, vulnerable communities, healthcare workers, government officials, community representatives, media professionals, and social-media influencers.
Authorities plan to organise rallies, roadshows, village meetings, awareness programmes in schools and colleges, screening and counselling camps, and door-to-door outreach. Community radio, digital campaigns, folk performances, and flash mobs will also be used to make HIV and STI-related information more accessible, particularly among young people.
The campaign will address issues including HIV transmission and prevention, safer sexual practices, STI prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and misconceptions surrounding HIV. It will also highlight the connection between substance use and HIV transmission. A key component of the initiative will be efforts to tackle stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, which health authorities say remain major obstacles to timely testing and treatment.
The campaign will promote the National AIDS Helpline 1097 and the online HIV Risk Assessment Tool to help people access information and services. Officials hope the latest statewide campaign will encourage more people to seek testing early and access treatment, while creating a more informed and supportive environment for those affected by HIV.
