HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 21: Nodal Officer of Integrated Health Campaign, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and deputy director of Sexually transmitted infections, Dr Zaiwang said on Tuesday that districts of Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland have an estimated 9,662 people living with HIV. However, the actual number of PLHIVs could be significantly higher due to underreporting and social stigma. He was speaking during the launch of Integrated Health Campaign in Dimapur.
Comparing to India’s HIV prevalence rate of 0.22 percent, the officer noted that Nagaland’s rate is alarmingly higher at 1.61 percent, making it second highest in the country after Mizoram. Dr Zaiwang reported that out of the estimated 9,662 PLHIV, only 3,034 are receiving antiretroviral therapy, ART as of March 2024. This leaves 6,628 individuals without treatment, highlighting urgent need for increased outreach and support services.
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The campaign data also detailed targeted interventions for high-risk groups, including injecting drug users, female injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, female sex workers, truckers, and migrants. EAC Dimapur Imlijungla urged various stakeholders to work together to ensure that these programs are effective and sustainable. Imlijungla stressed on early screening and prevention, adding that health issues among pregnant women was high. From April 2023 to March 2024, a total of 48 thousand 777 individuals were tested for HIV across Nagaland, with 960 testing positive. Among these, 919 were general clients, and 41 were antenatal care clients, indicating a significant number of HIV cases among pregnant women.
