KHAMMAM: Increasing HIV positive cases are a cause of concern in Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts. According to official records, More than 90 new HIV positive cases in Khammam and about 35 to 40 new cases in Bhadradri Kothagudem district are recorded every month.As many as 14,889 HIV cases in Khammam and about 3,827 in Bhadradri Kothagudem are already recorded. As per official records, since 2005 about 2,349 people in Khammam and 588 people in Bhadradri Kothagudem have died of AIDS.In Bhadradri Kothagudem district, of the 688 HIV positive cases recorded since January 2017, 40 are pregnant women.
In Khammam district about 2,250 persons are suspected to be suffering from HIV and among them 2,018 are sex workers. One ATR Centre, 29 FICTCs, 3 ICTCs and one PPTC are functioning in both the districts to test and control HIV. Interestingly, more HIV cases are registered in Khammam district than in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, despite the fact that the former is mainly urban and literate while the latter is agency area.
Officials said that one of the main reasons for spread of HIV/AIDS is having unprotected sex. People alleged that the government has failed to create awareness about HIV/AIDS among masses.
A 32-year-old HIV positive patient from Khammam said, “I was not aware about HIV and had unprotected sex with a woman and was affected with HIV.” He urged the government to create awareness about the disease among people.