Rate of fresh HIV positive cases seem to be reported more in number among the Muslims in 2015 in the city that has resulted in the reduction in number of AIDS-related deaths, according to officials at the Ranchi Sadar Hospital.
The data at the hospital shows that Muslim women are increasingly coming out of the shadows to come for tests and treatment. This trend shows an alarming number and increase in the infection, including the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) while the minority class has always refused to seek medical aid for the disease in the past that is believed to increase transmission risk by experts.
There are a total of 30 HIV positive patients registered at the Sadar Hospital’s Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) for 2015, including slightly over 50 per cent cases from the minority group while the centre registered 25 cases in 2014.
“In fact, awareness level has undoubtedly risen among Muslims and tribals from the small villages neighbouring the city and it is helping people from all communities, caste and class to open up for tests and treatment. This was not noticed earlier. Over 50 per cent of the total cases registered in the past year belong from the minority section,” said Kanchan Ojha, HIV/AIDS Counsellor, ICTC, Sadar Hospital.
Yet the good news about the alarming figure is that the afflicted patients are now showing reduction in AIDS-related deaths by increasing their reach of treatment, including the scenario in rural parts of the city.
“Undoubtedly, there has been a potential reduction in the number of deaths due to AIDS. Earlier, patients rushed at the eleventh hour used to be found HIV positive only after their death because the families used to hide the truth or not know about it themselves,” said the Counsellor.
The serpentine queue at the hospital’s gynecology department comprises majorly by women from the minority section, including HIV positive mothers, according to the hospital. Early detection, timely and confidential counseling, smooth medicine supply and treatment seem to be showing hopes of reducing transmission risk in the State.
“Child marriages and sexual exploitation in many sections in the society has led to this situation. Any community that allows men to have more than one wife/partner is already running at the risk of contracting several sexually transmitted diseases and even HIV. This is what the science tells us. It is mandatory to spread more awareness about hygiene to especially women because they have to bear children and also fall under the risk of giving the deadly virus to the child,” said Dr Shabnam Kumari, Gynaecologist at Sadar Hospital.
According to the latest data available from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there are 47,976 HIV patients in Jharkhand while the adult HIV prevalence in Jharkhand is 0.25 per cent while the national average is 0.27 per cent.