In 7 months, over 2K HIV+ cases detected in Nagpur District

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In 7 months, over 2K HIV+ cases detected in district

Proshun Chakraborty, TNN, Aug 11, 2010, 06.52am IST

NAGPUR: As many as 2,223 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive cases have

been detected in Nagpur district in the first seven months (January 1 to July

31) of this year. This figure includes 154 pregnant women. Notably, it is only

those patients who reported at government centres.

There could be several more undetected HIV+ve cases in the district.

According to resident deputy collector Pramod Bhusari, these cases were found at

19 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTCs) situated in the district.

Bhusari revealed this while briefing reporters on International Youth Day

celebrations to be held on August 12. He said a rally would be organised to

create awareness about HIV among youngsters and to make district HIV free.

" It is duty of every student to create awareness about HIV among rural

women, as they are more vulnerable to the killer disease, " he said. Bhusari said

that during January 1 to July 31, blood samples of 41,451 persons were tested

for HIV in the district. Of these, 2079 persons were found HIV positive.

Similarly, blood samples of 35,901 pregnant women were examined. Of these, 154

were found HIV positive. He said the district health administration has given

target to test blood samples of 82,000 persons while 65,000 ante-natal cases are

to be examined.

Strangely, the health department has no figures of patients' dying of AIDS. The

persons whose blood samples are tested include pregnant women, TB patients,

sexual disease cases and suspected HIV cases

referred by doctors from various hospitals.

Bhusari urged people to avoid unsafe sex, used syringes, and transfusion of

blood from professional donors as these are main ways of transmission of HIV. He

also urged barbers to use new blades for each customer.

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F. Borges

Email: peter.borges@...