Jammu Kashmir witnessing alarming rise in HIV/AIDS circumstances

The circumstances of HIV/AIDS are growing with every passing yr in Jammu Kashmir, as a complete of 6,305 sufferers have examined constructive within the area from 1998 till October 2023.

A high well being official knowledgeable the information company Kashmir Information Observer that 1,452 HIV-positive sufferers have died since 1998 till October 2023, whereas 3,583 sufferers reside on Anti-Retroviral Remedy (ART). He added that 521 sufferers have left follow-up.

He mentioned that 5,154 circumstances of HIV have been reported at GMC Jammu, and amongst them, 1,274 have died, 470 have left follow-up, and a pair of,782 reside on ART.

Equally, at SKIMS Srinagar, the variety of sufferers registered in HIV care until October 2023 is 776, with 152 deaths, 35 leaving follow-up, and 473 dwelling on ART, he added.

In ART Kathua, the variety of sufferers registered in HIV care is 375, with 26 deaths, 16 leaving follow-up, and 328 dwelling on ART.

The officers highlighted that attributable to social stigma, many individuals aren’t coming ahead for HIV exams, and over time, the variety of sufferers contaminated has proven a rising development.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a persistent, doubtlessly life-threatening situation attributable to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the physique’s capacity to battle an infection and illness.

HIV is a sexually transmitted an infection (STI) and will also be unfold by means of contact with contaminated blood or from mom to youngster throughout being pregnant, childbirth, or breastfeeding, in addition to multi-person utilization of needles. With out medicine, it might take years earlier than HIV weakens the immune system to the purpose of creating AIDS.

Officers mentioned that an individual affected by AIDS is sadly usually considered a stigma in society, and such people turn into victims of ostracism, rejection, and discrimination.

In addition they famous that J&Ok is at a larger danger of HIV/AIDS attributable to its standing as a vacationer vacation spot, together with the presence of long-distance truck drivers, thought of a weak bridge inhabitants for HIV transmission, the heavy inflow of migrant labourers, and the excessive focus of safety forces.

Most sufferers testing constructive for HIV/AIDS in J&Ok have contracted the illness from outdoors the UT. “Drug addicts are at a better danger of contracting HIV/AIDS, and if they’re married or sexually lively, they’ll transmit the virus to their companions as nicely,” they mentioned.

The AIDS Mission Cell was reconstituted because the JAMMU & KASHMIR AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY (JKSACS), registered below the Jammu and Kashmir Societies Registration Act, with impact from 14TH December 1998, to handle the issue of AIDS extra successfully.