Mizoram: 468 HIV positive cases identified

[Guest guest]

Mizoram: AIZAWL, March 25 – Answering a starred question from MLA F

Lalthanzuala, Health Minister F Malsawma said there were 13 HIV

positive cases among babies and children in the state. The Health

Minister further said as of October 1990 to January 2003, there were

468 HIV positive cases identified of which 295 were males and 173

were females. The Aizawl Civil Hospital has screened a total of

66,588 blood samples, according to the Minister, and of these, 468

cases were identified as HIV positive. This, however, is not accepted

officially as the blood screening did not conform to National AIDS

Organisation guidelines.

" A total of 66,588 blood samples, have been tested for HIV virus,

Hapatitis B and Malaria as is mandatory. However, since the screening

of these bloods did not conform to the guidelines set out by the

National AIDS Organization, it cannot be accepted as the official

figure for tests carried out to detect HIV virus. According to the

guidelines, which needs pre- and post-counseling, only 9625 blood

samples have been screened, " the Minister said.

There is a slow rise in HIV positive cases in the state, according

to F Malsawma. " The Health Department has detected a slow rise in HIV

positive case in the past few years. However, this may be due to the

fact that more blood screening are now taking place than in the

past, " the Minister explained to the House.

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