Drug abuse: HIV positivity fee rises 3 instances in Muktsar district
Archit Watts
Muktsar, January 13
The variety of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) constructive individuals is rising at a fast tempo in Muktsar district. Additional, the positivity fee has additionally elevated by virtually thrice prior to now 9 months (April to December 2022).
Use similar syringe
It has been noticed that the variety of HIV-positive individuals is rising as a result of the drug addicts inject heroin in a bunch, utilizing the identical syringe and needle. Satnam Kaur, Counsellor, Built-in Counselling and Testing Centre, Muktsar
A complete of 271 individuals had been discovered contaminated with HIV prior to now 9 months, whereas 124 individuals had been discovered HIV-positive from April 2021 to March 2022.
Notably, 11,541 individuals had been examined prior to now 9 months and 12,516 within the final monetary yr within the district.
The Well being Division stated a majority of the HIV- constructive individuals had been drug addicts and aged between 18 and 30 years.
Satnam Kaur, counsellor, Built-in Counselling and Testing Centre, Muktsar, stated, “It has been noticed that the variety of HIV-positive individuals is rising as a result of the drug addicts inject heroin in a bunch, utilizing the identical syringe and needle. They’re known as intravenous drug customers (IDUs). The virus simply transmits from one IDU to the opposite. The variety of heterosexual instances is much less. The scenario is sort of comparable in different districts as nicely.”
Nodal officer (tuberculosis) Dr Gurmeet Kaur Bhandari stated, “There are some built-in instances of HIV, TB and HCV in Muktsar district. These individuals are principally uneducated individuals.”