KOCHI: With a rise in the number of migrant workers coming into the state, Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) has its task cut out.
According to KSACS data, 36 new cases of HIV were reported among workers from other states in Kerala during April-December 2016. From April 2015-March 2016, the total number of HIV cases among migrant workers in the state was 46.
A KSACS officer said this indicates by the end of this financial year, the number of migrant workers affected by HIV may be higher than last year’s.
“With 36 cases detected till December, there is a possibility of an increase in the number of cases till March 2017,” he said.
KSACS officers believe HIV cases are on the rise corresponding to the rise in the number among migrant workers arriving in the state. Many of the migrant workers use the services of sex workers and officials fear this may lead to a spread of AIDS cases among them.
The highest number of cases were reported in Ernakulam district where the maximum number of migrant workers arrive every year. An officer said the society has dedicated groups in every district to monitor the migrant workers, carry out regular health check-ups and collect blood samples.
“Keeping in mind the number of cases in Ernakulam, we have launched two projects to monitor HIV cases among the migrant workers in the district alone.”
Most vulnerable
A group highly vulnerable to contracting the virus in the state is the sex workers. Till a few years back, the migrant workers were not coming in contact with sex workers. However, recently, their earning potential has increased and with a rise in their financial resources, they are approaching sex workers. “Currently, we have 16,200 sex workers registered with us in the state.
They regularly undergo medical check-ups and HIV detection tests once in six months,” Joint Director of KSAC Dennis Joseph said. From April-December 2016, five sex workers were detected with HIV in Kerala. “Early detection is a key remedy to the problem of rise in number of cases,” he said.
Dennis Joseph said a majority of the cases were detected among persons from the North-Eastern states.
“Some workers coming from the North-Eastern states halt at flesh trade centres in Kolkata before reaching Kerala and on the way to their native places. We also found some have visited red-light areas in Mumbai before coming to Kerala. We suspect they contract HIV from these places,” Dennis said.