By Aafaque Hussain
SHILLLONG: AIDS, one of the most dreaded diseases of the immune system has a high rate of occurrence in the world and has claimed the lives of many.
The Northeastern part of the country has recorded a staggering increase in the number of AIDS cases over the past few years.
As per the available statistics, there are altogether 915 people in the State who have been tested HIV positive between 2002 and March 2012. The total number of people who underwent HIV testing at Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) was 61,848 between the same period.
Speaking on the present scenario in the state, Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) Project Director Dr S Laloo said that the number of people living with HIV in the state has increased over the past few years.
She however added that many people are now coming forward for testing in order to detect the deadly virus which has facilitated detection of this disease at an early stage. This subsequently facilitates treatment as well as registering a nearby correct figure on the number of patients.
Currently, 233 people including six children living with the HIV are being administered anti-retro viral treatment in the state. The MACS has its ART (Anti Retro Viral Treatment) centres in Shillong, Tura and Jowai which caters to the needs of people living with HIV.
The MACS project director also informed that there have been altogether 41 deaths due to AIDS in the last ten years.
In the year 2003, three people were found HIV positive while the number went to four in the year 2004. The number of HIV positive people took a sharp increase in the year 2007 when 48 people were detected as HIV positive.
Last year, 337 people were tested positive and this year till March, the number of HIV positive people is 81.
To keep a check on the deadly virus, MACS is organising different awareness programmers with much emphasis on road shows for the people living in the rural areas of the state.
Reacting to a query, Dr S Laloo informed that the mining areas of the state like Rambrai, Ladrymbai and Borsora are vulnerable areas as far as AIDS is concerned since the areas are dominated by sex workers, drug users and even migrant population.
The MACS is also working with different NGOs to ensure that the people suffering from this disease do not face the added pain of social stigma from the general public although there are no such incidents reported so far.
