Assam: HIV Cases Increase Drastically in the State
The numbers from April 2022 to October 2022 have been reported to be 2269
GUWAHATI: The number of HIV-positive cases has increased in a very alarming manner in the Northeastern state of Assam. The number of cases in the first seven months of the current year is ready to cross the previous record of cases in a year.
As per the official data with the Health Department of the state, the total number of cases in the year 2021-2022 was 2366, which was the highest to date. The next highest was in the year 2019-20 when 1955 HIV-positive cases were detected. But this year, the number from the April 2022 to October 2022 was reported to be 2269, suggesting that all previous records will be broken till March 2023.
"The new HIV cases in Assam have increased by 26.2% in 2021 in comparison to 2010. In the current year, it is seen that HIV infections are spreading among the youth, especially among IDUs (Injecting Drug Users)," said Pomi Baruah. She is the project director of the Assam State AIDS Control Society.
A book named 'Jigyasa', released by the Assam Health Minister, Keshab Mahanta on the occasion of World AIDS Day, mentioned that 2079 new reports came to light in the year 2021. The book also mentioned that the highest number of cases are reported among prison inmates, truck drivers and homosexual men. It also revealed that taking narcotics via syringe is a growing concern in terms of the illness.
As of October 2022, 10765 people are under active ART in the state. Out of all the active cases in the state, Kamrup Metropolitan has the highest number of 7610 cases. Cachar District comes second with a total of 5200 cases. Nagaon with 1602 cases and Dibrugarh with 1402 cases come next on the list. NACO HIV Estimation Report of 2021 mentioned that Assam has about 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV)
Also Read: World AIDS Day 2022: Steps Towards AIDS - Free Assam
Also Watch:
