Kashmir Digits

The latest statistics on AIDS death cases has put the toll at 628 in Jammu and Kashmir in last 16 years.

The figures were revealed by Project Director Jammu and Kashmir State AIDS Control Society Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman who added that at present 5000 people are living with HIV in the state.

“Since 1999 onwards over 628 people have died due to AIDS in Jammu and Kashmir which include  552 in Government Medical College Jammu and 76 in SKIMS Srinagar,” said Dr Saleem at  a media sensitization workshop here today.

The workshop was organised by Mamta Health Institute for Mother and Child, New Delhi in association with JKSACS and Jammu and Kashmir Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses under Project Vihaan.

Giving details, he said around 227 persons were tested positive for HIV infection this year as against   364 last year.

He said 91,101 people were counseled in the year 2014-15 and HIV testing of 88,638 patients was carried out in the same year out of which 364 were found HIV positive (0.41%).

“Against this, 72,702 people were counseled this year till October and 72,605 were tested for the HIV of which 227 (0.31%) were found positive.”

He said currently there are 1563 patients registered for ART (medications that controls HIV) in Government Medical College and Hospital Bakshi Nagar Jammu and 207 with SKIMS Srinagar.

He said JKSACS has decided to approach religious heads to be part of the control and awareness campaign against this deadly disease.

“We have already talked to some religious heads in Srinagar and will now approach to their counterparts inJammu as well to request them to be part of this social cause. I think they can make a difference”, said Dr Saleem.

To the queries about disbursement of financial aid to the HIV patients as claimed by the health department, Dr Saleem disclosed that JKSACS has not given any amount to any person so far.

“I have recently joined and found that the state lacks on many crucial aspects, the disbursement of relief to the HIV patients is one such area” he said.

“We are at number two from bottom after a northeastern state as far as maintaining the crucial data including the diagnosis of  TB patients with HIV infection ”, he added.

Regarding the facilities to be provided to the persons with HIV infection, he said JKSACS has approached to Regional Transport authorities in both divisions to make provisions for free travel to the People Living with HIV (PLHIVs).   He said many poor patients cannot afford to travel to the hospitals to get ART and free transportation would help them a lot.