5.18 % of HIV transmission in New Delhi is due to blood transfusion

January 4, 2002

Anti-AIDS drive in city in February

The Asian Age 4th January, 2001-New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan. 3: The Delhi government has decided to launch the 5th Family

Health Awareness campaign against AIDS in the city in February. While talking to

reporters, the Delhi health minister, Dr. A.K. Walia, said " as many as 646 cases

of AIDS have been reported in the city so far. While 167 patients have died,

there are over 22,000 HIV positive cases in Delhi. " The health minister further

said that of a total 646 AIDS cases, 557 were male, 89 female, 18 in the age

group of 0 to 14 years 234 in 15-29 years, 282 in 30-49 years, 66 above 50 years

and 46 have not specified their age. " The sentinel surveillance survey was

conducted at seven sites in the city in 2000 which revealed that in general 25

per cent of the population were HIV positive, among STD patients, 3.73 per cent

were infected and among drug users it was five per cent, " said the minister.

The minister further said that about 73.58 per cent people had been infected due

to unsafe sex, 5.18 per cent due to transfusion of infected blood, 4.08 per cent

due to indictable drug use, 1.72 per cent due to prenatal transmission and 15.40

per cent due to other reasons.

Dr. Walia also said that number of factors like increase in migrant population,

street children, commercial sex workers, and intravenous drug users contribute

to the high risk of HIV transmission. Prevalence of STD-infected population also

adds to the number of AIDS cases, he added. Health department of the Delhi

government has evolved a multisectoral strategy by seeking help from public,

private, various government departments and NGOs for effective implementation of

this campaign. The Delhi government has also decided to create awareness among

the masses through television, radio, video screening, advertisements, bus

panels, hoarding at petrol pumps and colleges, kiosks on G.B. Road, stickers,

message on electricity and water bills.

He said that the family welfare awareness campaign would be observed in Delhi

from February 1 to 20 by setting up awareness camps.

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Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA) (www.fxb.org )

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