World AIDS Day: Odisha yet to be free from grip of HIV

Bhubaneswar: Killer disease AIDS continues to haunt people in several parts of Odisha though the number of positive case has witnessed a slightly downward trend in the recent past.

As per official data,  most AIDS-prone district Ganjam, where large number of people migrate to neighbouring states for livelihood, continues to top the list with a total 16,515 cases reported till October this year since 2000.  While 12,37,337 people had undergone the HIV test in the district, 16,515 of them tested positive for the virus.This year (till October), 318 persons, including 30 pregnant women have been diagnosed with the disease.

While 849 persons tested HIV positive in the district in 2015, 810 positive cases were detected in 2016, 659 in 2017, 671 in 2018 and 691 in 2019

Despite various awareness drives, unprotected sex has been found to be majorly responsible for transmission of the virus in the district, said health officials.

In bordering district Balasore,  the number of HIV positive cases continues to remain alarming. As per data, the district has so far reported 1689 positive case while 391 affected persons have succumbed to the virus so far. Around eight to 10 persons  are being diagnosed with HIV at the district headquarters hospital (DHH)  everyday. Mostly, youngsters are being affected by the killer virus in the district, said the district AIDS cell.

From 2015 to October 2020, total 565 persons were diagnosed with the AIDS in the district: 101 in 2015, 99 in 2016, 95 in 2017, 97 in 2018, 114 in 2019 and 59 in 2020 (till October).  Soro and Khaira blocks are registering maximum positive cases.  The number has decreased this year as HIV tests were not conducted due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, said a health official.

The figure is also on rising trend in Kalahandi district with detection of 1081 positive cases from  2006 till November 2020. The total positive cases, include 682 males, 374 females and 25 transgenders.  Bhawanipatna block in the district has reported highest 275 cases while Thuamul Rampur reported lowest six cases. So far, 167 HIV patients have succumbed to the virus in the district.

However, the number of HIV infections has decreased in Jajpur district as compared to previous years, thanks to the widespread awareness on the disease, said district official sources

This year, only 16 persons have been diagnosed with HIV and two died due to the deadly virus. The infected persons mostly belong to  Jajpur, Binjharpur, Bari and Dasarathpur blocks, where most of people migrate to other states to work and get infected with the virus, district officials said.

In 2017, total 44 persons had tested positive for the virus, 39 in 2018 and 35 in 2019. As per official information, the screening started in the district in 2003.  So far, 633 persons, including 260 females have contracted the virus in the district in the 17 years.  Besides, 104 patients, including 70 males have succumbed to AIDS in the 17 years.