The Hindu : Most HIV cases in 15-49 age group

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

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Most HIV cases in 15-49 age group

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 1. A survey carried out by the Delhi Government has revealed that the largest number of HIV/AIDS cases in both males and females is in the age group of 15 to 49 years. This group constitutes more than 80 per cent of cases both in males as well as females. The prevalence of HIV among antenatal women was below one per cent and the infection was primarily confined to high risk groups and even mostly among commercial sex workers.

According to the Health Minister, A.K. Walia, the findings of the survey suggested while in case of males, the spread is almost equally divided between the age group of 15-29 years and 30-49 years, in case of females there is preponderance of the cases in the age group of 15 to 29 years. However, viewing in totality, males dominate in the cumulative number of AIDS cases. Dr. Walia revealed that till date 22,400 HIV/AIDS cases had been reported in the Capital and said the situation was not very alarming and there was no need to panic. But he stressed on the need for unleashing proper education and awareness programmes with the help of NGOs in order to protect the vulnerable sections of the society.

He said the large population of the Capital with expanding migratory population, 40 per cent population of Delhi living in slum and JJ clusters, 45,000 intra-venous drug users, five lakh street and working children, 5,000 brothel-based commercial sex workers, high prevalence of STD, poor health status of women, wide gap of knowledge and awareness and poor health seeking behaviour were some of the major reasons making the Capital vulnerable to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Walia said it was a matter of satisfaction that Delhi has been categorised in Group III by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) which means HIV infection among high risk groups is less than five per cent and is also less than one per cent among antenatal women.

Dr. Walia said in the Stree Shakti camps organised by the Delhi Government, 56,000 women were covered. Out of them, 6,646 women opted for counselling for HIV/AIDS. While 879 women voluntarily tested for HIV, only 0.4 per cent of them tested positive. Similarly, he said tests were conducted on the rescued commercial sex workers living in Nirmal Chaya. A total of 145 inmates from this category voluntarily tested for HIV, out of which 24 tested positive. This is about 16 per cent even in high risk groups. This is every less compared to Goa 53 per cent and Mumbai 58.6 per cent. To check the spread of HIV infection from high risk groups to general population, he said 43 targeted intervention projects have been launched for various categories such as commercial sex workers, truck drivers, street children and migrant workers.

A total of 12 STD clinics, two mobile health clinics and two family health clinics area also being run. The policy of the State Government is to provide drugs for opportunist infections. Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is also provided to persons exposed to HIV/AIDS. The School AIDS Education Programme has been started in 1,200 Senior Secondary Government and private schools to sensitise the students from 9th to 12th standards and make them aware of HIV/AIDS.

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