Shillong, Dec. 1: Prompted by the increase in the HIV/AIDS cases in Meghalaya, the heath department has sought support from the state’s legislators to launch effective campaign against the spread of the disease.

At a programme organised by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society to observe World AIDS Day today with the theme of Universal Access and Human Rights, principal secretary A.K. Srivastava said a Meghalaya Legislators’ Forum can be formed to help the people have knowledge on how to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS.

He reminded that a similar forum is active in Manipur.

Meghalaya has at present 193 HIV/AIDS cases, including nine children. There is an increase in the number of cases this year compared to last year’s figure of 160.

Deputy chief minister in-charge of health, Mukul Sangma, said with the increase in the number of cases, there is an urgent need to take effective measures to check the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

“Though the number of cases in Meghalaya is not so alarming compared to the rest of India, we need to make efforts to have zero prevalence of the cases in the state,” Sangma said. He also said the society should be tolerant to accept people with HIV/AIDS.

The Meghalaya AIDS Control Society said its priority would be integrating prevention of the disease with care, support and concern so that Meghalaya can achieve zero prevalence of cases by 2012.

In the evening, several bands from across the northeastern states performed at a concert titled Rock 4 Life.

The concert was part of an awareness campaign targeted at the youth of the Northeast. The organisers said it was organised to attract the youths so that they can be the torchbearers to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS.