AGARTALA:
The rise in the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Tripura due to injectable drugs led the AIDS Control Society in the state to organise a sensitisation programme with all the councillors of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) on July 20.
Informing that more than 500 people have been identified as injectable drug users in Agartala, and more than 400 people have tested positive for HIV, Deep Kumar Debbarma, state surveillance officer and in-charge project director of Tripura state AIDS Control Society, said that cases of HIV positive have shot up and it is an alarming situation.
“We are holding a sensitisation programme with all the councillors of Agartala Municipal Corporation regarding HIV AIDS and against injectable drugs. We will hold the discussion ward-wise and review the situation in the AMC areas,” he said.
Debbarma further informed that in the past years, the number of HIV-positive cases was high in other districts of the state compared to West District, but in the last few months, the number has significantly increased in and around Agartala city.
“Not only the health department, but also people’s representatives will have to take responsibility to control the situation. The situation is very alarming,” the doctor said.
He said around 300 HIV-positive cases were present in the AMC areas and in the last three months, the number has increased significantly.
“We will take some steps against the usage of injectable drugs and to prevent the further spread of HIV. We will monitor the entire situation closely to control the situation. We have started this at the micro level. The same programme happened in Gomati district yesterday and today, it at Kailashahar in Unakoti district,” he added.
More than 50 per cent of people in 59 wards of AMC are using injectable drugs, and the majority of injectable drug users are in the age group of 16-24 years.