Although the AIDS Day was observed on December 1, Jharsuguda district remains haunted by the AIDS menace, with the number of patients rising since 2002.
Out of the 283 persons infected by the disease, 45 have lost their lives. Given the statistics for the last 15 years, the highest infection figure is 33 during 2015. This year, 28 persons have been recognised as HIV positive till the end of October.
The infection rate is more in urban than in rural sector of the district. Generally, workers from outside States coming to Jharsuguda for job, besides drivers, are transmitting the AIDS virus here. Three major cities, such as Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar and Belpahar have been identified to be more vulnerable to the disease. The workers living in these towns without any family members get easily infected.
From 2002 to 2016 October end, 45 persons are reportedly dead in Jharsuguda district. Now, the figure of HIV positive patients has been 283, out of which major patients belong to Jharsuguda city.
During last 15 years, a total of 85,629 patients were examined for AIDS, out of which 93 were outside patients and the rest within the district. The factory workers, mainly residing in Vedanta industrial area, Dhutra, Marakuta, Banjari and Belpahar are identified to be the “hot spot”.
Although the district administration is claiming to prevent the disease by spreading public awareness, it has not been found effective as the patients are increasing day by day.