Punjab : Rise in HIV+ cases in state

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Rise in HIV+ cases in state

Naveen S Garewal/ Tribune News Service/ Chandigarh, December 18

Punjab presents a paradoxical situation when it comes to dealing with HIV/AIDs.

While on the one hand, the state has received six national awards for creating

awareness about the infection, its prevention and treatment, the number of HIV

positive cases in the state has increased by a whopping 26.1 per cent in the

past one year.

Officials in the Health Department put the current number of HIV infected in the

state at around 61,000, an increase of 37,836 from the 2009 figure of 23,000.

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the central body dealing with the

infection, its prevention and treatment, accepts the Punjab Government's version

that the rapid increase is seen primarily in the intravenous drug users (IDUs).

" The situation is alarming and HIV/AIDS infection is acquiring an epidemic form

due to the rapid increase in drug users sharing needles. There are more men than

women who are infected with HIV, " said Dr Sukhpal Singh, who works with HIV

patients.

The state witnessed an overall adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS at 0.32 per cent in

2009. Among the male population in 2009, the percentage of males who were

detected with HIV virus comprised 0.37 per cent and women comprised 0.26 per

cent.

However, Punjab crossed all records when it comes to prevalence of HIV/AIDS

among IDUs. As compared to a national average of 9 per cent, 26.1 per cent of

known IDUs in Punjab were detected to be HIV positive.

State Health Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla has said, besides taking control of

the alarming rise in number, Punjab's focus

for the year 2010 and beyond would be to provide " Care and support to the people

living with HIV/AIDS without any discrimination " .

Punjab State AIDS Control Society is closely monitoring the implementation of

schemes across all districts of the state in support of the 2010 theme

" Universal Access and Human Rights - Light the Rights " .

The alarm, according to the Punjab AIDS Control Society (PSACS), is that HIV

infection is no longer confined to high-risk group population in India but is

spreading from population with high-risk group to the general population, and is

also moving from urban to rural areas.

At present, PSACS is reaching out to the IDUs with HIV prevention services

through 25 targeted intervention projects in 18 districts.

Recently, PSACS has started five Opioid Substitution Therapy Centres in

Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Batala, Jalandhar and Ludhiana as part of the harm

reduction services.

For early diagnosis, PSACS has established 152 Integrated Counselling and

Testing Centres across the state, which includes 71 stand alone facility, two

under Public-Private Partnership, 65 CHC/PHC and 15 mobile medical units.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101219/punjab.htm#15