Bihar: HIV Prevalence rate declines: Report

[Guest guest]

HIV+ prevalence rate declines: Report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2004 02:40:36 AM ]

PATNA: The sixth round of sentinel surveillance conducted by the Bihar

State Aids Control Society (BSACS) from July 1 to September 30 this

year indicates that the HIV+ prevalence rate is declining even as it

remains unchanged in the " men-sex-men " (MSM) category.

The HIV+ prevalence rate in the MSM group remained 1.6 per cent of the

total population both in 2003 and 2004. High-level BSACS sources said

out of the 5,510 persons tested during the check period at eight

sexually transmitted diseases (STD), one MSM, two female sex workers

and seven antenatal centres, only 37 tested HIV+. Out of the 2,775

pregnant women who underwent the HIV test at seven antenatal centres

(ANCs), only six tested positive three at the Patna Medical College

Hospital (PMCH), two at the Begusarai Sadar Hospital and one at the

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital (JNMCH), Bhagalpur.

The HIV+ prevalence rate was, however, slightly higher among those who

underwent the test at eight STD centres.

Of the 1,985 persons undergoing the test at these centres during the

check period, 26 tested HIV+. This included five HIV+ cases at the

Duncan Hospital, Raxaul, one at the PMCH, seven at the Anugrah Narayan

Magadh Medical College Hospital, Gaya, five at the Darbhanga Medical

College Hospital, six at the Katihar Sadar Hospital and one at the

JNMCH. Not a single HIV+ case was detected at the Ara Sadar Hospital

where 250 persons underwent the test.

The most significant decline was noticed among the female sex workers

of Chaturbhujsthan (Muzaffarpur) and Shravan Bazaar (Munger). Out of

the 500 female sex workers who underwent the test, only one from

Shravan Bazaar tested HIV+.

BSACS project director C K Anil said though 250 female sex workers of

Chaturbhujsthan underwent the test, not a single of them tested HIV+.

Out of the 250 persons in the MSM category who underwent the test at

the Patna MSM centre, four tested HIV+, he maintained.

Anil said emphasis on the HIV/Aids awareness programme and an increase

in the number of voluntary counselling and testing centres (VCTCs)

have resulted in the decline of HIV+ cases in the state.

The number of VCTCs has increased to 45 in the state with five of them

located in Patna. At present, there are 5,500 HIV+ cases in Bihar.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/922153.cms

[Guest guest]

Friends, Greetigs !

My basic question is - who believes in this data. I had been to Patna and

visited a number of private/charity health institutions several times.

All of them are getting HIV/AIDS patients and I know that Bihar State AIDS

Control programes make no effort collect this data from the private hospitals.

Good luck if what they say is true !

Fr.Sebastian ousey

Director

Catholic Health Association of India

Secunderabad

Andhra Pradesh, India

E-mail: <ousey@...>