Five HIV positive patients were identified every month across the Bokaro district in past eleven months, official informed.
Amidst sturdy initiatives and rapid awareness program the deadly disease AIDS spreading wings across the Bokaro district, while the rampant rise in the number of pregnant women tested HIV positive is also a cause of great concern not only in Bokaro but in Jharkhand too.
The mission to control AIDS seems to be falling on deaf ears as more and more HIV positive patients are been identified each week; on an average, five HIV positive patients were identified every month across the Bokaro district in past eleven months, official informed.
According to the reports form ICTC centres (Bokaro Steel and Gomia), all total 8707 patients were screened during January to November 2017 in which 60 were identified as HIV positive. “Two of them have died”, said an official on anonymity.
Eight among the HIV positives (60 patients) are also found con infected with Tuberculosis (TB), said the official.
Despite the tall claim of the JACS to eliminate this disease in the coming years, AIDS rapidly spreading its wings not only among the urban or semi-urban population but among the innocent tribal.
Several new HIV positive cases have been identified among the tribal population including Baharagora in East Singhbhum district, Giridih and in Hazaribagh districts. Lack of awareness might be the reason behind it, said Dr BP Gupta Bokaro district health department.
Maximum cases those who tested positive are belonged to floating population and practice unsafe sex despite aware of the consequences of this deadly disease. “Among these ninety percent of HIV positive cases are due to only and only unsafe sex practice”, said A K Sinha working on AIDS control programme.
“All pregnant women in the State need to be tested for HIV to prevent transmission from mother-to- child”, urge Sangeeta Mishra district Co-ordinator CINI (Child in Need Institute). “Media should play a positive role in creating awareness about HIV and also reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV”, she added.
