2 min readItanagarMar 11, 2013 11:57 AM IST
First published on: Mar 11, 2013 at 11:57 AM IST
Casual approach of people towards AIDS in Arunchal Pradesh has resulted in a 100 fold jump in HIV positive cases in the last 14 years even though the state government has made efforts to create awareness about it.
In 1998 when the Arunachal Pradesh Aids Control Society was set up,only two HIV positive cases were reported in the entire state,but the figure rose to 202 as per the latest count made in December,2012.
“People are still very casual in approach to the disease,” Deputy Director of Arunachal Pradesh Aids Control Society (APSACS),Tasor Pali,said.
“Unless people are aware,no effort of waging war against AIDS will bear fruit,” Pali,who is also in charge of Information Education Communication,said.
According to a recent survey by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO),estimated cases of AIDS in the state was 1080,Pali said.
He said the actual number of AIDS positive cases would be much higher as the figures available with APSACS were only of those who voluntarily came for testing.
“Awareness is the only visible vaccine available against the killer disease,” he said.
According to APSACS,the number of male HIV positive patients in the state was 137 and female 65.
APSACS has been engaged in targeted intervention through several NGOs working under it of high risk groups such as sex workers,intravenous drug users,truck drivers and migrant labourers.
India has the world’s third largest HIV/AIDS-affected population and the Northeast the worst-affected,according to the United Nations.
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