The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is gradually spreading its tentacles in Indian Held Jammu and Kashmir with the official data putting the number of total cases with HIV in the state to 3300 against 200 in the year 2001. The officials in Jammu and Kashmir State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS) have so far been able to detect 3300 HIV cases against an estimate of 5000 cases projected by the society.
Sources say that 70,000 persons have voluntarily come to 35 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTC) functioning across the state for getting themselves tested during the year 2011-12 of which 450 were found HIV positive. The number is quite high in comparison to previous years, they added. They said till 2001 the society had recorded 200 HIV positive cases in the state which have increased to 3300 till date.
They said that presently there are 900 patients getting treatment from JKSACS, while 250 patients infected with the deadly decease have died in the state so far.
When contacted, Director JKSACS said, “Following massive awareness campaign people who have doubts in their minds due to one or other reason are voluntarily coming forward for tests. The awareness campaign has significantly contributed in detecting the hidden AIDS cases”.
He claimed that the massive awareness campaign launched by the society has motivated people to come for these crucial medical tests. “The number of people who came for tests during the year 2011-12 in our 35 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) functioning in the state was 70,000, which forms one percent of the reproductive population of the state. The reproductive population of the state is 6.7 million against the total population of more than 10 million”, he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir is the first state to involve religious leaders in its AIDS awareness campaign. In the year 2006 the J&K AIDS Control Society launched a massive anti-AIDS awareness campaign involving religious leaders, teachers, Panchayat members, NGOs and students.
Sources say that 70,000 persons have voluntarily come to 35 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTC) functioning across the state for getting themselves tested during the year 2011-12 of which 450 were found HIV positive. The number is quite high in comparison to previous years, they added. They said till 2001 the society had recorded 200 HIV positive cases in the state which have increased to 3300 till date.
They said that presently there are 900 patients getting treatment from JKSACS, while 250 patients infected with the deadly decease have died in the state so far.
When contacted, Director JKSACS said, “Following massive awareness campaign people who have doubts in their minds due to one or other reason are voluntarily coming forward for tests. The awareness campaign has significantly contributed in detecting the hidden AIDS cases”.
He claimed that the massive awareness campaign launched by the society has motivated people to come for these crucial medical tests. “The number of people who came for tests during the year 2011-12 in our 35 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) functioning in the state was 70,000, which forms one percent of the reproductive population of the state. The reproductive population of the state is 6.7 million against the total population of more than 10 million”, he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir is the first state to involve religious leaders in its AIDS awareness campaign. In the year 2006 the J&K AIDS Control Society launched a massive anti-AIDS awareness campaign involving religious leaders, teachers, Panchayat members, NGOs and students.
Source: Greater Kashmir
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