AIDS toll, new positive cases down in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH - The two-pronged strategy — one-to-one interaction and contact programmes — of the administration with the help of the State AIDS Control Society (SACS) has helped bring down the incidence of the deadly disease, health officials said Tuesday.

According to the officials, not only have the number of deaths due to AIDS in Chandigarh declined in the last three years, the percentage of HIV positive cases has also come down.

“The strategy followed by the health department has proved successful and we have been able to control both deaths as well as new HIV positive cases. In 2007, 114 persons had fallen victim to AIDS. The toll came down to 97 in 2008 and it has declined to 61 in the first eight months of this year,” said Vanita Gupta, SACS project director.

According to official records, in 2006, out of 8,924 persons screened, 1,066 (12 per cent) were found HIV positive. In 2007, 13,630 persons were screened out of which 1,144 (eight per cent) were found positive.

“In 2008 the percentage of HIV positive cases came down to seven per cent: 1,239 were found HIV positive out of the 17,405 persons. And up to August this year, out of the 15,162 persons screened, only 780 (five per cent) were found positive so far,” said Gupta.

Besides, the target intervention programme that was launched by SACS around two years ago, is also generating good results.

SACS had started 13 target intervention programmes among commercial sex workers, migrant workers, drug addicts, and among youngsters working in various industries here.

“With the active support of UT administration and in collaboration with various NGOs, the awareness campaign has reached every nook and corner of the city. Thanks to the inclusive awareness campaign, more and more people are now coming forward for AIDS test,” Gupta said.

As per SACS records, out of those affected from AIDS in Chandigarh, 61 per cent are males while 39 per cent are females.

SACS had also launched a programme in city schools to educate and make the would-be parents aware about the dangers of this deadly virus.

“Arrangements have been made for free distribution of condoms at various locations of Chandigarh. We have also trained some private medical practitioners under the public-private partnership programme in the most vulnerable areas of Chandigarh,” said Gupta.