Observation of World AIDS Day, 2022
Rongili Barta- Along with the rest of the world, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) is observing World AIDS Day throughout the state with a flurry of activities. The state-level event will be held at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) auditorium from 10: 00 am onwards. The Chief Guest of the event will be Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Assam , Shri Keshab Mahanta. Principal Secretary to the Govt of Assam, Health and Family Welfare, Shri Avinash Joshi, IAS will be the guest of honour. Along with other dignitaries, renowned singer Nahid Afrin will be a part of the event. The state-level function will be preceded by a rally comprising students from colleges and various institutions, NGOs and other stake holders. The rally will be flagged off at GMCH auditorium complex by renowned sportsperson (swimmer) Elvis Ali Hazarika. At the central function, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Assam, Shri Keshab Mahanta will launch 10 nos of OPD-OST(Opioid Substitution Therapy) Dispensing Centres at 10 nos of district hospitals across Assam. They include, T.R.B Civil Hospital, Kamrup, S.M.K Civil Hospital, Nalbari, Morigaon Civil Hospital, Dhemaji Civil Hospital, LGB Tinsukia Civil Hospital, Sivasagar Civil Hospital, Dhubri Civil Hospital, SK Roy Civil Hospital , Hailakandi, Karimganj Civil Hospital, Goalpara Civil Hospital. The minister will also release books on HIV and Blood Donation services. World AIDS Day is being observed in all districts across Assam with rallies, public meetings and various other activities. In order create HIV awareness amongst the masses, ASACS has undertaken various activities by disseminating HIV messages in mass media (print and electronic),outdoor media (hoardings, bus panelling, train panelling), folk media (natika, ojapali), social media (face book, twitter, instagram), piggyback activities during raas and durga puja festivals, events and HIV awareness in colleges through Red Ribbon Clubs and schools through Adolescence Education Programme. As per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021, Assam has an estimate of 25,073 nos of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Out of this total number, 45 per cent of PLHIVs are female and children living with HIV is 3 per cent. Total number of people alive by taking Anti- retroviral therapy (ART) is 10765. The HIV prevalence rate in India is 0.21 and the HIV prevalence rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent which is lower than the national and the national prevalence rate is 0.21 per cent. As far as the HIV prevalence in districts are concerned, Kamrup (M) has the maximum number cases (7610), followed Cachar district (5200), Nagaon (1602) district and Dibrugarh (1402). Regarding route of transmission in Assam, 81.63 per cent is through heterosexual , 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, through homosexual route is 4.61 per cent 0.85 per cent through blood and blood products and 2.61 is not specified.