More than 10,293 people living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Meghalaya as of January 2026, with the state recording the highest number of cases in the country. The health minister Wailadmiki Shylla has announced sanctioning of Rs 25 crore for implementing the five-year targeted mission to check the alarming rise of HIV/AIDS cases in the state.
Replying to a question by NPP legislator from Gambegre Mehtab Chandee A Sangma in the Assembly on Wednesday, Shylla said deaths linked to the disease over the past decade reached 749 — with East Khasi Hills accounting for 435, followed by West Jaintia Hills (123) and East Jaintia Hills (90).
Smaller tallies were recorded in other districts, including Ri Bhoi (51), Eastern West Khasi Hills (16), West Khasi Hills (8), South West Khasi Hills (7), West Garo Hills (9), East Garo Hills (4), South Garo Hills (3), North Garo Hills (1) and South West Garo Hills (2). “It is pertinent to note that all the reported deaths were attributed to opportunistic infections (OIs) and no deaths were reported as being directly caused by HIV/AIDS,” he said.