HIV infection among Injecting Drug Users declining

There has been a marked decline in the rate of infection among Injecting Drug Users in the state and more HIV/AIDS stricken people are coming forward to avail of care offered by government agencies, a study has revealed.

There has been a marked decline in the rate of infection among Injecting Drug Users in the state and more HIV/AIDS stricken people are coming forward to avail of care offered by government agencies, a study has revealed.

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The study, carried out by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and NGOs working for HIV/AIDS patients, however, rings alarm bell on the increasing use of assorted oral drugs or pharmaceutical drugs among young people, including school children, throwing a fresh challenge to the state,

The trend also revealed that HIV infection among Injecting Drug Users (IDU)s had shown a drastic reduction following massive awareness drive, but more and more cases of spread of the disease through heterosexual route and parent to child transmission was increasing that now encompasses all strata of the society.

According to NSACS data, the state witnessed a drastic decline in the number of IUDs from 1980s and 90s and at present there are an estimated 27,774 of them in Nagaland.

The NSACS is the nodal agency in the state to coordinate among the government’s care and support infrastructure and over 40 NGOs and community orgainsations.