Rise in HIV positive cases in Tarn Taran: Health dept report
Cases have nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016; 84 cases since January this year
TARN TARAN : A graph of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases has been increasing during the last three years here, says the health department’s report.
As per experts, injecting drugs is the main reason behind the rapid increase in HIV positive cases in the district. On condition of anonymity, one of experts said, “People who inject drugs are 28 times more at risk of HIV compared to the general population. This risk arises particularly from sharing needles and injection equipment.”
“Using needles to inject drugs and practising unsafe sex leads to the risk of HIV spreading easily in infants,” said the expert.
According to the data from the health department, 94 cases, with 63 males and 31 females were found HIV positive, including two newborns in 2012.
Similarly, 96 cases; 50 males, 41 females and 4 infant cases came up in 2013.
In 2014, out of total 83 cases, in which 63 men, 13 women and 7 newborns were found HIV positive in the district.
The graph of HIV positive cases sped up drastically in 2015 when the department found 190 cases; 124 males, 58 females and 8 children. The report says that a total of 177 HIV positive cases were found in 2016. Out of which 119 were men and 56 women while 2 were toddlers.
In 2017, from January to July, 84 cases have been found, out of which 53 are men and 31 women while 4 are children. The cases have nearly doubled from 2012, when 94 cases were reported in the entire year.
Psychiatrist Dr Ranbir Singh Rana said, “The major causes of rise in HIV positive cases in the district are unsafe sex and used syringes.”
Rana said if a pregnant woman, having doubts of being HIV positive, can join integrated counselling and testing (ICT) centre at the civil hospital at the earliest, the infant can be saved from the infection.
Rana said, “Because of lack of awareness in remote areas, many women still deliver at home, which forms the main cause of HIV positive cases in infants.”
Civil surgeon Dr Samsher Singh said, “The department has launched different programmes, especially in border areas, to make people aware in this regard.”
“The district remains victim of drugs as it is situated along the Indo-Pak border. The increasing HIV cases are putting the lives of women and children in danger,” said social activist Harikrishan Arora.