The Djinn (devil) of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has badly haunted the district of Kishanganj in the recent time especially in the year 2012. The recent figures released by Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) is very alarming for the north-eastern district of state. As per official sources till October the 413 cases of AIDS has come into notice, which is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). In fact, there is a threefold increase in the HIV + (positive) patients this year in comparison to 161 cases in the year 2011.
Officials said that there are a number of reasons behind the rise in HIV positive cases in Kishanganj. The prime reason is its political / geographical position close to the neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bangladesh. Other reason is the huge migration of labourers to distant places and perennial problem of human trafficking.
|
HIV + (Positive) Cases in Kishanganj
|
|
|
Year
|
No of AIDS Patients
|
|
2007
|
146
|
|
2008
|
145
|
|
2009
|
252
|
|
2010
|
249
|
|
2011
|
161
|
|
2012
|
413
|
Fact is that, Kishanganj was one of the seven districts in the country and the only district in Bihar where the World Health Organisation (WHO)) had launched the CHARCA programme to contain AIDS in 2004. However, the CHARCA programme was wound up in 2005, sources said.
In view of the district's susceptibility and vulnerability to the menace of HIV, the Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) is actively campaigning to control the menace of AIDS. Altogether 32,598 persons, both male and female, were made to go through the grill of testing at various camps throughout the district. The district incharge of AIDS control programme official said that lack of awareness among the inhabitants in the district where illiteracy was still quite high was the prime factor behind such phenomenal incidence of HIV+ cases. People are still daunted by the stigma attached to HIV+ and would not volunteer any information about it till it goes beyond the limit of tolerance, added the official.
Need of the hour is that the District AIDS control unit and the state government should take the AIDS control programme as pilot project to curtail the number of affected people. Nukad- natak, drama, advertising and personal consultation can bring down the number of HIV positive patients. The educated people also need to give valuable contribution in awareness programme across the district.
