Meghalaya considers mandatory pre-marital testing amid HIV rise

The Meghalaya government is mulling to make HIV testing compulsory before marriage in a bid to tackle its spread after a surge in cases put the state on sixth position in India for HIV prevalence.

- David Laitphlang

‘At a high-level meeting chaired by deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong and attended by health minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, social welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh and eight MLAs from East Khasi Hills on Thursday, the government resolved to formulate a comprehensive policy to combat the growing health crisis.

“The numbers are scary. And it's time Meghalaya takes the monster by its neck,” Lyngdoh said. “We are mentally prepared to take strong actions,” she added, stressing that the health department has been tasked to draw up a cabinet note outlining the proposed mission-mode strategy.

Taking a leaf out of Goa's play-