Angul: Though World AIDS Day is observed December 1 every year across the globe to create awareness about the dreaded condition, it is yet to produce the desired results in this district due to a host of factors.
The increasing number of HIV cases and casualties in the district has made the massive awareness campaigns launched by both the state and Centre a futile exercise, a report said.
According to the information available with District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), a total of 1,541 HIV affected persons including 479 women and 118 children had been detected in the district since 2003. However, 269 of them have already died which is a worrying factor for the unit, it was learnt.
On the other hand, blood samples of 24,219 persons were collected between April and October this year and 75 of them were tested positive for HIV. The list of affected persons included 24 women and six kids. Meanwhile, 19 of them have already died of AIDS.
The data further reveals that Angul block in the district tops the list with 320 HIV positive cases followed by Talcher with 276 affected persons. The alarming rise in HIV cases since 2003 has given sleepless nights to DAPCU members.
While only nine persons were tested positive in 2003, 16 more joined the number in 2004, 24 in 2005, 66 in 2006, 93 in 2007, 106 in 2008, 131 in 2009, 144 in 2010, 172 in 2011, 193 in 2012, 153 in 2013, 189 in 2014 and 170 cases in 2015, it was learnt.
When asked about the reason behind such a steep growth, DAPCU district project coordinator Pramila Hota cited rapid industrialisation in Angul is a major factor behind the spate.
Explaining more about it, Hota said bonded labourer from others states are flocking to the region in search of work. Similarly, the number of truck and other heavy vehicle drivers is more in the district when compared to other districts. These people, who remain separated from their families for months, go for paid but unprotected sex which results in rising cases of STD. The unit has identified nearly 300 sex-workers in the district.
Meanwhile, DAPCU has assigned three NGOs to create AIDS awareness among labourers and sex-workers in the district. The HIV victims are asked to attend regular counselling sessions so that they can lead healthy lives. The victims are also included in various welfare programmes like Madhubabu Pension Scheme and Annapurna Antyodaya Yojana.
Though DAPCU takes utmost care to keep the details of the AIDS affected persons confidential, many of them end up getting segregated by the society, admitted the district coordinator.
She appealed people to learn the reasons of spread of the disease so that it can largely be brought under control. PNN
