Srinagar, Dec 1:
Srinagar, Dec 1: As many as 1332 persons have died in J&K because of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) till October 2022, according to the official figures revealed to Rising Kashmir.
The data included that a total of 5896 people in J & K living with HIV/AIDS, were registered with the three centers of J&K State Aids Control Society (JKSACS) at GMC Jammu, GMC Kathua and SKIMS Soura. Among them, 3313 were on treatment.
As per the detailed figures, as many as 4900 persons suffering from HIV are registered at GMC Jammu which include 2913 males, 1696 females, 11 transgenders, 162 male children under the age of five years and 118 female children under the age of five years.
Among them, 1402 are receiving treatment while 328 have lost follow-up. 273 people are on treatment.
Similarly at SKIMS Srinagar, the total number of people with HIV is 703 of which 501 are males, 158 are females, eight are transgenders, 21 are male children and 15 are female children under the age of five years.
AT GMC Kathua, the total number of people living with HIV is 293 which include 136 males, 141 females, 11 male children, and five female children under the age of five years. 122 people were on ART treatment.
Dr Tabassum Jabeen, Deputy Director of J&K State Aids Control Society, said, out of the total 1332 (which is a cumulative figure since JKSACS started its operations to till date), 1190 deaths have been reported in Jammu and 142 in Kashmir.
Dr Tabassum said that the drugs presently are very effective and people living with HIV can live a healthy life. “The Antiretroviral therapy (ART) provided to people is effective and can help such people to live a better and healthy life,” she said.
This year, the AIDS Day theme is “Equalize”, which emphasises eliminating the inequalities that have slowed the fight against the disease.
The inequalities, such as gender inequality, limit women’s access to HIV care and other forms of sexual and reproductive health care, which in turn affects their decision-making capabilities and their capacity to decline unwanted sexual encounters or negotiate for safer ones.
The officials said that the “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.
These include (1)-Increase availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention, so that everyone is well-served. (2)-Reform laws, policies and practices to tackle the stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalized populations, so that everyone is shown respect and is welcomed. (3)-Ensure the sharing of technology to enable equal access to the best HIV science, between communities and between the Global South and North. (4)-Communities will be able to make use of and adapt the “Equalize” message to highlight the particular inequalities they face and to press for the actions needed to address them.