Shillong, Oct 28: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla has called for a change in the state’s approach to tackling the rising number of HIV cases in Meghalaya, stressing that awareness and acceptance within communities are crucial to reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment.

The State is experiencing a worrying surge in HIV/AIDS cases, particularly in East Khasi Hills, where the number of confirmed cases has now doubled to 3,432.

The Health Minister said one of the main challenges remains the deep-rooted social stigma surrounding HIV. “We have to think from the perspective of those affected—what kind of challenges they are facing. There was one case I remember where a child was thrown out of school because the mother was HIV positive. In such a scenario, who will come for

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