The number of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) positive cases in Bathinda district appears to be gaining alarming proportions.In the first six months of this calendar year i.e. January to June 2011, as many as 134 HIV positive cases have been detected while during the entire 2010, a total of 162 HIV positive cases were detected in the district.
Five persons have already lost their lives this calendar year due to various diseases owing to lack of immunity due to HIV. Eleven HIV positive persons died in 2010 and one in 2009.
Three Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) in the district had reported these 17 deaths, which included three by the Bathinda centre and six each by the Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul centres.
According to information available, out of 134 HIV positive cases detected between January to June this year, 110 were detected at the Bathinda ICTC alone. Nine cases were detected at the Rampura Phul ICTC and three cases at the Talwandi Sabo centre. Apart from these, two HIV positive cases each were detected at the link ICTCs situated at Goniana, Sangat, Ballianwali and Raman while four were detected at Maur’s link ICTC.
Sources said that there could be more cases that were lying undetected.
It may be mentioned here that in 2008, as many as 91 HIV positive cases were reported in the district while in 2009, the number of HIV positive cases touched the figure of 123.
According to an official of the Health Department, detection of a large number of HIV positive cases is due to testing of blood samples of pregnant women, blood donors, TB patients etc on a large scale for ruling out the HIV. Other factors responsible for HIV occurrence are unsafe sex, drug addiction and use of untreated syringes and needles.
134 cases have been detected in the district during the first six months of this year
5 HIV positive persons have lost their lives during the period.
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