Namakkal Smiles Over Drop in HIV cases

24 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) and a mobile unit pressed into service for testing suspected cases in the district

Thanks to official measures, including targeted intervention, the number of HIV cases has drastically come down over the years in the district which once topped the list.

The total number of HIV-affected persons during the period between April and October this year was found to be 421, of which 222 are men, 177 women and 22 pregnant women, an official of the Health Department said. As many as 692 people, including 26 pregnant women, 370 men, 293 women and three transgenders, tested positive for HIV in 2012-13, while in the previous year, a total of 902 tested positive, of which 44 were pregnant women, 476 men, 380 women and 2 transgenders.

The HIV positive cases in the previous years were 1,484 during 2006-07, 1,940 in 2007-08, 1,600 in 2008-09, 1,353 in 2009-10 and 1,149 in 2010-11.

The officer noted that the prevalence of HIV in pregnant mothers had also declined remarkably due to preventive measures and awareness programmes.

During the period between April and October 2013, the number of pregnant women who tested positive was 22, while the figure for the corresponding period in the previous year was 26.

The ante-natal positive cases were 44 in 2011-12, 47 in 2010-11, 66 in 2009-10, 67 in 2008-09, 121 in 2007-08 and 103 in 2006-07.

“Twenty-four integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) and a mobile unit are pressed into service for testing suspected cases in the district,” the officer informed.

He noted that the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), an arm of the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (TANSACS), has been carrying out targeted interventions among high-risk groups like sex workers, men having intercourse with men and truck drivers.

On Sunday, a rally was taken out by students and health workers as part of the World AIDS Day events. The rally was flagged off by District Collector V Dakshinamoorthy.

Later, a seminar on HIV infection was conducted and a mass dining with HIV-affected people was organised.

The participants took an oath on the occasion of World AIDS Day. Joint Director of Medical Services Dr Inbasekaran and Deputy Director of Health Services Dr B R Jemini were among those present during the occasion.

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