Guwahati: Assam is home to 25,073 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) according to the NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.
According to report, 3 percent of the 25,073 PLHIV are children and 45% of women.
According to a release from the ASACS on Thursday in honour of World AIDS Day, Assam has a 0.09 percent HIV prevalence rate, which is lower than the national prevalence rate of 0.21 percent (December 1).
Reportedly, 10,765 people in the state are currently living thanks to anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
The district with the most instances, Kamrup (Metropolitan) has 7,610, Cachar has 5,200, Nagaon has 1,602 and Dibrugarh has 1,402.
According to the report, 81.63 percent of HIV infections in Assam are transmitted through heterosexual intercourse, 5.54 percent through HIV-infected syringes and needles, 4.76 percent from parent to child, 4.61 percent through homosexual relationships, 0.85 percent through blood transfusions and 2.61 percent through other means.
ASACS has undertaken various activities to create awareness by disseminating HIV messages in mass media (print and electronic), outdoor media (hoardings, bus and train panelling), folk media, social media (facebook, twitter, instagram), activities during festivals, events and HIV awareness in colleges through Red Ribbon Clubs and schools through Adolescence Education Programme, the release stated.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the state Health department organised a central function at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) where Minister for Health and Family Welfare Keshab Mahanta launched ten Opioid Substitution Therapy (OPD-OST) Dispensing Centres for district hospitals across Assam.
Elvis Ali Hazarika, a well-known swimmer also led a rally that included participants from NGOs, other interested parties, students from colleges and other institutions.
All of Assam’s districts are celebrating World AIDS Day with marches, town hall meetings and other events.