Madikeri: Kodagu district witnesses marginal decline in the number of registered cases, with 121 HIV+ cases reported till October 16, according to district (Acting) AIDS control officer Dr. Shivakumar.
According to Dr. Shivakumar, Karnataka stood in the fifth place with district registering very few cases. Among the 685 sexual workers in the district, 123 are in sexual contact with men and 10 women and 8 men were infected with deadly HIV virus during the period, Dr. Shivakumar confirmed.
Among the infected 3 were infants in the age group of 6 weeks to 18 months. In Madikeri taluk 24, Somwarpet 45, Virajpet 75 and border areas reported 27 cases out the total 171 in the year 2015, Dr. Shivakumar said.
Till October 16. 2016, Madikeri reported 16, Somwarpet reported 35, Virajpet 55 and border areas 15, totalling to 121, Dr.Shivakumar stated. Incidence of cases has increased due to increase in the number of tourists and inflow of sexual workers from outside the district, he said. In addition few people from Hassan and Mysuru district are undergoing screening tests fearing local societal backlash, Dr. Shivakumar stated.
ART centre was established in 2009 and in 7 years 1397 people were confirmed infected with HIV and 953 are undergoing treatment, revealed Dr. Shivakumar. Among the TB patients 12 were infected in 2014 while 5 in 2015. Pregnant women were among those infected, he clarified.
Kodagu district has 38 ICTC centres, one ART centre, 3 links ART centres and four Early infant Diagnosis Centre (EID’s) in total for trating HIV infected persons. NGO like Ashakirana, Ashodaya committee, Organisation for Development of Peoples (ODP), Snehashraya committee, Sarvodhaya HIV infected members committee are helping in tracing and creating awareness on AIDS, said Dr.Kumar.
29,994 HIV infected cases in the state
36.7 million are infected with the deadly virus worldwide where as in India 2.1 million are infected, showing decline in the recent years. Among the 19,48,499 screened in the state, 29,994 confirmed cases of HIV were reported.
AIDS can be treated but cannot be cared and safe measures have to taken by individuals during sexual intercourse, warned Dr.Shivakumar. Extensive research being done to find a drug but may take more than 5 years to discover the one which can resist and combat HIV to save human lives from imminent death, according to Dr.Kumar.
World AIDS day on Dec 1
Like every year, worlds AIDS day will be celebrated in the district. This year’s program will be held at Cauvery Kalakshetra with a slogan ‘join hands to stop HIV‘.
District inspector Sunitha, counselors Anitha, Ashmitha and Sumeena were also present in the press conference.
