An estimated 1800 people get infected with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) in India per day. At present around 5.7 million people are living with this infection in our country.
It was also observed that Varanasi is the top district in Uttar Pradesh in terms of HIV prevalence as the total number of known HIV positive patients account for 1442. Varanasi has the highest incidence of HIV positive cases and 475 cases were tested positive in the last year.
These startling facts came to light in a discussion on ‘HIV/AIDS in Varanasi.’ Care India and District AIDS Coordination Committee had organised the programme at a hotel in Maldahiya area here today.
Chairing the discussion, the chief medical officer of Varanasi, Dr. AP Singh said that there was a need to disseminate awareness towards HIV and AIDS in schools because adolescent are in the high risk group.
Dr. Singh said that migration and high influx of foreign tourists were among other factors responsible for increasing HIV infection in Varanasi. He said that HIV and AIDS should not be directly associated with sex and there should be a healthy discussion to face the challenges.
The CMO also said that efforts should be made to change social attitude, mainly discrimination towards those suffering from HIV and AIDS. “More and more youths should be brought into this campaign to check the spread of this menace,” he stated.
Representatives of non governmental organizations working in HIV/AIDS awareness were of the view that there was a need to focus on common people along with high risk group to check the spread of this deadly diseases in the society.
{{/usCountry}}Representatives of non governmental organizations working in HIV/AIDS awareness were of the view that there was a need to focus on common people along with high risk group to check the spread of this deadly diseases in the society.
{{/usCountry}}The speakers said that people were now much familiar about HIV and AIDS and there was a need to transform this knowledge into practice. “Influential people of Varanasi should be roped into this campaign to keep the masses abreast about this disease,” said Devesh Pati Tripathi.
Neel Mani of Care India welcomed the guests and said that unprotected sex, human trafficking, unsafe blood transfusion were among many factors responsible for increasing number of HIV and AIDS cases in Varanasi. District AIDS programme officer, Dr. PC Mishra told the audience about various measures adopted by the health department towards education and awareness of HIV and AIDS.