Himachal Pradesh News: An increase in AIDS cases has been recorded in Himachal Pradesh. To control AIDS, strict steps are being taken by the government and AIDS Control Society. Due to this, the people of Himachal are becoming aware and coming forward to get tested. According to Rajiv Kumar, Project Director of AIDS Control Society, at present 5 thousand 870 people are HIV positive in Himachal. These include both men and women.
Rajiv Kumar said that till September this year, 404 cases of AIDS have been reported in Himachal Pradesh. Many people in the state have also contracted AIDS who are taking drugs through syringes. In Himachal Pradesh, an oral replacement therapy center is being run at the Regional Hospital Una for the care of syringe addicts.
How to protect yourself from AIDS?
Rajiv Kumar told that anyone can get HIV/AIDS knowingly or unknowingly. Pregnant women must get themselves tested for HIV during pregnancy or in the first three months, so that the child can be protected from HIV infection. HIV positive pregnant woman should undergo ART during delivery. The child can be protected from HIV by giving medicine on time and by giving medicine to the newborn baby immediately after birth.
55 integrated consultation and testing centers are being run in government hospitals in Himachal Pradesh. Two ICTs are also being run in Himachal Pradesh, which test for HIV. Two community care centers in the state have been set up in Shimla and Hamirpur to take care of people living with HIV.
The first case of AIDS came in the year 1986
The first case of AIDS in Himachal was reported in Hamirpur district in the year 1986. After this, AIDS gradually spread to other parts of the state. Only after this AIDS Control Society came into existence. These days youth are falling prey to drugs. The youth are using different types of drugs through syringes. Due to this the risk of spreading AIDS is increasing.
Get checked if symptoms appear
AIDS can happen to people of any age group. If a child’s mother is suffering from AIDS and she does not get timely treatment, then there is a higher possibility of the child getting AIDS. In such a situation, as soon as women see symptoms of AIDS, they should get themselves checked immediately. According to AIDS Control Society Shimla, in the last three years in Himachal, children of pregnant women infected with AIDS have not been born infected with AIDS. Doctors say that some people still have misconceptions about AIDS. This disease is not caused by touching, mutual contact, mosquito bites, living together or sitting together, eating food or wearing clothes and using toilet.
Read this also: ‘When the opposition did not eat samosa, then how did it become anti-government…’, Jairam Thakur taunts CM Sukhu