The menace of HIV/AIDS continues to haunt the industrial belt of the district with several fresh HIV cases being reported from the industrial pockets, mainly in Kothagudem and Palvancha mandals in the past couple of weeks.
According to official figures, as many as 43 new HIV positive cases were reported from the six Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and other State-run HIV testing facilities across the district in January this year.
However, the official tally reflects only a small part of the actual cases. Many HIV positive cases, those diagnosed in private testing centres, often go unreported due to the stigma associated with the disease, sources said.
The district has one Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre at the Government area hospital in Bhadrachalam and five ART link centres - one each in Kothagudem, Manuguru, Yellendu, Aswaraopeta and Burgampadu.
Of the total 3,491 persons registered with the ART centre, around 2,183 persons were initiated into treatment regimen so far.
As many as 1,309 Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) are on ART drugs in the district.
A total of 1,050 people afflicted with HIV/AIDS are availing monthly pension under the State government’s Aasara scheme in the district.
Around 500 persons died of AIDS and other associated “opportunistic infections” like tuberculosis in undivided Khammam district, prior to the formation of the Bhadradri Kothagudem district in October last year, since 2009, sources added. Targeted intervention programmes among the high risk groups are being implemented under the aegis of the Telangana State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) in association with voluntary organisations to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district, said Dr Chinni Krishna, District AIDS Control Officer, Bhadradri-Kothagudem.
A week-long cultural campaign involving folk artistes is underway in the district with a thrust on industrial pockets to promote behavioural changes among high risk groups and spread awareness on HIV/AIDS among all sections, he noted.
