The Red Ribbon Programme (RRC) also serves to educate people on treatment impact and allow for mitigation and stigma reduction among youth in educational institutions.
There are 344 people living with the HIV/AIDS virus at present in Meghalaya - 170 men, 162 women and 12 children. The state falls under 'category c', below the high prevalent states like Manipur and Nagaland in the Northeast. Between April and August 2010, a total 2,616 persons were examined for HIV virus out of which 121 were found to be positive cases, a report from the MACS said.
The RRC is preparing and promoting youth peer educator within and outside the campuses to create zeal of volunteerism among youth in contribution to the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
As the youth are considered to be the most vulnerable group, the inception of Red Ribbon Club in the state of Meghalaya was on the year 2008-2009, through the MACS, with the help of National Service Scheme NEHU and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. MACS has formed a total of 22 RRC's in colleges as well as in the community level.
With the formation of yet another 11 new RRC's the total number of RRC's in the state has shot up to 33.