SHILLONG: The government is facing a significant challenge in addressing the drug issue, as the number of intravenous drug users (IDUs) with HIV-AIDS in the state are rising.
According to a mapping and population size estimation conducted in eight districts from 2022 to 2023, the total number of HIV+ IDUs in Meghalaya stands at 3,175.
At a meeting held under the aegis of the Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission (DREAM) on Tuesday, Principal Secretary in-charge of health and family welfare, Sampath Kumar, noted that of the total active number of IDUs, those registered with NGOs associated with the Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) is 2,350.
He also informed that certain therapies are being provided to those affected, and the number of IDUs is slowly declining.
“The health department is adopting mechanisms to prevent the spread,” Kumar informed the press.
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In response to the growing concern, the government has intensified its efforts to combat the drug menace.
Speaking at the meeting, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of empowering village defence parties (VDPs) as a key strategy in this fight.
Minister Lyngdoh mentioned that organising VDPs in identified hotspots, including Shillong city, under the DREAM initiative was a major topic of discussion.
“One major area of concern for us was the need to make DREAM more community-oriented. We do not want to see the programme as just a government initiative. We need to broaden the involvement of civil society,” he told the press.
Lyngdoh further highlighted that there has been a general consensus that local communities, or dorbar shnongs, should play an active role in identifying and tackling the drug problem.
The minister added that a meeting will be convened with various dorbar shnongs to discuss the matter further.
