Northeast Desk, 6th July: Tripura is grappling with a concerning surge in HIV cases among students, primarily attributed to the use of injectable drugs. According to the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS), students from 220 schools, 24 colleges, and universities have been identified as users of injectable drugs, highlighting a distressing trend.
Recent data reveals that the state is detecting between five to seven new HIV cases daily through targeted tests. In a media workshop organized by the Tripura Journalist Union, Web Media Forum, and TSACS, Joint Director Subhrajit Bhattacharjee provided insights into the HIV situation in Tripura.
Data collected from 164 health facilities across the state, covering nearly all blocks and subdivisions, underscores the scale of the issue. As of May 2024, Tripura’s Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres have registered 8,729 patients. Among them, 5,674 individuals are currently living with HIV, comprising 4,570 males, 1,103 females, and one transgender person.
A staggering 828 HIV-positive students have been registered by TSACS, with 572 still alive and 47 tragically succumbing to the infection. Many of these affected students have migrated out of Tripura for higher education, complicating efforts for ongoing care and support.
Joint Director Bhattacharjee pointed to intravenous drug use as the main driver behind the spike in HIV cases among students, noting that the problem often goes unnoticed until it reaches critical stages. He emphasized that a significant proportion of affected children hail from affluent families, adding to the complexity of addressing the issue effectively.
The alarming rise in HIV cases among students in Tripura underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and heightened awareness to curb the spread of the virus and support those affected.
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