E-Paper
Red light area?major source of HIV infection
MEERGANJ?A red-light area situated in old Allahabad has emerged as the main source for spreading the dreaded HIV virus in the city. A large number of people have also contracted STD infection by visiting this ?forbidden? place.
MEERGANJ—A red-light area situated in old Allahabad has emerged as the main source for spreading the dreaded HIV virus in the city. A large number of people have also contracted STD infection by visiting this ‘forbidden’ place.
The facts have come to light from the recent data compiled by the district health department for the UP State AIDS Control Society. It was found that in the last two years there has been more than 20 per cent increase in the HIV positive (seropositive) commercial sex workers. In the year 2003, about 11.96 per cent commercial sex workers tested positive for HIV. In 2004-05 there was more than 20 per cent increase in the HIV positive commercial sex workers.
In the last two years about 4646 sexually transmitted disease patients were treated at different district hospitals in Allahabad. Among them atleast 30 per cent patients reportedly tested positive for HIV. After brief counselling a large number of male admitted to have indulged in unsafe sex.
The blood banks in the district, both government and private, also reported an increase in the number of HIV tested positive patients in the last three years. In the year 2002, the two private blood banks and the blood bank situated at the SRN Hospital, district hospital and Military Hospital reported only three HIV positive cases.
In 2003, a total 26 HIV positive cases were reported while in 2004-05 a total 33 HIV positive cases were reported by these blood banks. However the health department sources informed that the HIV positive cases are much higher than the number reported in various government hospitals. "If actual figures are reported then it will indicate how badly the authorities have failed to implement the AIDS Control Programme in the district," said the source.
District AIDS Programme Officer Dr RP Singh said commercial sex workers are still the major source of spreading HIV infection.
"We are continuously organising HIV testing and awareness camps in the red light area to make sex workers aware of the deadly HIV infection," he informed.
