AIDS cases on the rise in Nagaland

[Guest guest]

AIDS cases on the rise in Nagaland

PTI [THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003 01:21:06 PM ]

KOHIMA: Incidence of HIV infection among intravenous drug users (IVDU) has

registered a declining trend but the ante-natal cases and the spread of the

dreaded disease through sex is on the rise in Nagaland, the sixth

most-affected state by HIV/AIDS in the country.

The incidence of HIV infection among drug users appears to be reducing due

to greater awareness and targeted intervention projects carried out by NGOs

and Nagaland AIDS Control Society, state chapter of National AIDS Control

Organisation (NACO) for the past couple of years, according to official

sources here.

Although initially the prevalence rate was very high among the IV drug users

in the urban areas, the killer disease is now spreading to rural areas of

the state encompassing all sections of the society, including the newly born

babies, the Society statistics revealed.

On the other hand, the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection among STD clinic

attendees and ante-natal (transmission from mother to baby) cases in rural

district have also been increasing, posing a serious challenge for the

health managers in the state.

The state government realised that the magnitude of HIV/AIDS cases in

Nagaland is a cause for great concern as the number of full blown AIDS cases

increased quite alarmingly not only among drug users but also among the

general populace including rural areas, the sources said.

After the first HIV positive case was detected in 1990 and full-blown AIDS

in 1994, till date 24,735 blood samples have been screened, out of which

1,263 have tested positive, recording a high prevalence rate. So far, 284

AIDS cases were recorded in the state which included 14 incidence of below

five years, and out of them 98 died, the official statistics revealed.

According to Naco, in Nagaland 45 per cent of AIDS cases were a result of

sexual intercourse with infected person, 43 per cent from infected syringes

and needles while remaining 14 per cent were through blood transfusion or

blood products.

The highest number of HIV/AIDS patients belong to the age group of 20-29

years (55 per cent) followed by 30-39 years (27 per cent) and five years of

age group accounted for 9 per cent.

As per official records, the three most affected districts in the state are

Tuensang, Dimapur and Kohima. In 1999, out of 267 ante-natal care (ANC)

screened, 13 tested positive in Tuensang, out of 400 ANC screened, eight

tested positive in Dimapur while in Kohima out of 400 ANC screened, three

tested positive. In the year 2000, in Tuensang out of 342 ANC screened, 12

tested positive, in Dimapur out of 400 ANC, three positive while in Kohima

out of 400 ANC screened, eight tested positive.

The incidence among ante-natal mothers in Tuensang is more alarming as

compared to other districts due to easy availability of drugs as the

district shares long border with Myanmar, where there is high prevalence of

STD, sexual promiscuity and low rate of literacy, official sources pointed

out.

As part of the AIDS control programme, in the first phase started in 1992,

the state health and family welfare department focused mainly on creating

awareness regarding HIV/AIDS among the people with the establishment of an

AIDS cell.

The second phase of the project started in 1999 with two objectives, firstly

prevention of HIV infection and secondly strengthening the state's capacity

to deal with the epidemic.

The state government prepared an action plan for 2001-02 where the basic

thrust was to reduce the spread of HIV infection and to strengthen the

state's capacity to respond to the challenges posed by the dreaded disease.

To deal with the menace, eight sexually transmitted disease clinics have

been set up in all the district hospitals with medical officers trained for

syndrome treatment of STD and consumable free medicines and condoms are

available.

Three blood banks have been set up with the support of the AIDS Control

Society in Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur civil hospitals well equipped with

test kits, the sources said.

The society also supports nine voluntary counselling and testing centres in

the state, one each in district hospitals and one at Impur Christian

Hospital with the objective of making HIV testing facilities available in

all districts.

Moreover, there are six sentinel surveillance sites in the state, comprising

four ANC sites at Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung and Tuensang, and one STD site

at Kohima and one IVDU site at Dimapur.

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[Guest guest]

Nagaland runs one of the best programs among the States in India. While

Manipur saw a runaway increase in HIV infections among drug users in

early nineties,Nagaland and Mizorum took the message and could contain

the infection rates among IDUs to manageable numbers. The next challenge

for the NE states is to contain the hetero sexual infection which is much more

difficult. But with better political support and an enlightened public, these

states should be turning the corner with a big scale up of existing intervention

strategy among the high risk groups. Greater involvement of CBOs like the Naga

Mother's Association will be an effective strategy.The Govt could also

consistently provide commited officers for the AIDS Society which shows

the political support for the program.

J.V.R.Prasada Rao

Secretary Family Welfare

Nirman Bhawan

E-mail: <secyfw@...>