SRINAGAR: The alarming surge in HIV/AIDS circumstances persists in Jammu & Kashmir, with a complete of 6,305 people testing optimistic within the area from 1998 to October 2023, based on a senior well being official.
As per official knowledge, 1,452 HIV-positive sufferers have succumbed to the illness throughout the identical interval, whereas 3,583 people are at the moment present process Anti-Retroviral Remedy (ART). An extra 521 sufferers have discontinued follow-up.
Breaking down the info, the official revealed that GMC Jammu has reported 5,154 circumstances of HIV, with 1,274 fatalities, 470 discontinuing follow-up, and a pair of,782 people at the moment on ART.
Equally, at SKIMS Srinagar, 776 sufferers are registered in HIV care till October 2023, with 152 deaths, 35 discontinuing follow-up, and 473 on ART.
In ART Kathua, 375 sufferers are registered in HIV care, with 26 deaths, 16 discontinuing follow-up, and 328 on ART.
The well being officers emphasised the influence of social stigma on deterring individuals from present process HIV assessments, contributing to the escalating variety of infections over time.
AIDS, a persistent and probably life-threatening situation brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), weakens the immune system, making the physique weak to infections and illnesses.
Notably, HIV is transmitted by way of sexual contact, contaminated blood, or from mom to youngster throughout being pregnant, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The chance of transmission additionally exists by way of shared needles. With out intervention, HIV could progress to AIDS over a number of years.
Officers underscored the societal stigma related to AIDS, resulting in ostracism, rejection, and discrimination towards affected people.
Highlighting the susceptibility of Jammu & Kashmir to HIV/AIDS, officers cited the area’s standing as a vacationer vacation spot, the presence of long-distance truck drivers (thought of a weak inhabitants for HIV transmission), the inflow of migrant labourers, and a excessive focus of safety forces.
Importantly, many sufferers testing optimistic for HIV/AIDS in J&Okay contracted the illness exterior the Union Territory. Officers famous that drug addicts, notably those that are married or sexually lively, pose the next danger of transmitting the virus to their companions.
The Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Management Society (JKSACS) was reconstituted from the AIDS Undertaking Cell in December 1998, aiming to handle the AIDS drawback extra successfully below the Jammu & Kashmir Societies Registration Act.
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