Assam registers rise in AIDS cases

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State registers rise in AIDS cases

By A Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 12 – Even though Assam is among the low-prevalence

AIDS States, the number of detected AIDS cases has recorded a sharp

rise in recent times. As against 372 AIDS cases as on August 31,

2006, the State at present (March 2007) has 612 cases, an increase of

240 cases in less than a year.

As per the latest data on AIDS compiled by the Assam State AIDS

Control Society, Assam has 460 male and 153 female AIDS patients. The

number of HIV-positive (sero-positive) people, however, is much

higher at 1,831.

There are some other interesting findings. The age group 30-39

constitutes the most vulnerable category, with 268 AIDS cases,

followed by the 20-29 group with 183 cases. The 40-49 group comes

next with 98 cases.

Sexual mode of transmission accounts for the highest number of 498

cases, which is 81.37 per cent of the total AIDS cases. Injectable

drug users (IDU) come next with 34 cases and a percentage of 5.56.

The incidence of prenatal transmission, too, is high at 27 cases and

4.41 per cent.

The findings were tabled at a review meet of the Legislative Forum on

HIV/AIDS Control Programme today. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Health

Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, 16 MLAs and officials of the Assam

State AIDS Control Society took part in the deliberations.

The total number of HIV positive cases in the State is bound to be

several times that of the detected cases, as the detection is only

voluntary. According to the estimation of a Central agency, the total

number would be in the region of 30,000. " Identification, therefore,

is must to get the patient treated and also to check its spread.

While we need to intensify the voluntary testing movement, the

possibility of bringing in a legislation to make testing for HIV

mandatory in certain cases such as for couples intending to get

married, etc., should also be explored, " Gogoi said.

The Health Minister said that for dissemination of information at the

grassroots, 2,500 self-help groups (SHGs) had been imparted training

on AIDS. " They will conduct awareness programmes at gaon panchayat

level, " he said.

Sarma also underscored the need to have a more substantial coverage

of AIDS in the school syllabus.

J Shyamala Rao, chief executive officer of Assam State AIDS Control

Society gave a power-point presentation of the AIDS scenario and also

some achievements in recent years.

The district-wise break-up of AIDS in the State records Kamrup with

the highest 379 cases, followed by Nagaon with 31 and Golaghat with

30.

The current Legislative Forum was formed on May 3, 2007 under the

chairmanship of the Chief Minister. The purpose of the Forum is to

review and monitor the implementation of the AIDS control programmes,

to prepare a draft legislation if needed, and to discuss any other

relevant matters.

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