HIV/AIDS spreading to interior talukas

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HIV/AIDS spreading to interior talukas

NT News Service

Mapusa Feb 6: While the coastal talukas of Goa continue to have a

high prevalence of HIV, it is the rising incidence of HIV in the

remote talukas that is worrying authorities in the state.

According to data compiled by the Goa State Aids Control Society

(GSACS), the total number of HIV infections in Goa in 2005 alone was

1,029. The cumulative cases from 1986 up to December 2005 rose to

8,420.

From this, Salcete taluka has the highest incidence of HIV with 20.4

per cent followed by Mormugao with 19 per cent and Tiswadi with 17.4

per cent. Bardez stood fourth with 15.7 per cent.

The incidence of HIV in the other talukas is as follows: Ponda

(5.0), Bicholim (2.7), Quepem (2.4), Pernem (2.1), Sanguem (1.8),

Canacona (1.8) and Sattari (0.7 per cent).

What is raising eyebrows of experts in the field of HIV/AIDS in Goa

is not the high incidence of HIV in the coastal talukas. It is the

rising incidence of HIV in the interior talukas.

" Five years ago, there were no cases of HIV in the talukas of

Sattari and Sanguem. Even Canacona had very few cases. Now HIV has

crept into the remote talukas of Goa. A percentage of 0.7 for

Sattari means 59 persons in Sattari now have HIV, " said Dr

D'Sa, the deputy director (blood safety) at the Goa State Aids

Control Society (GSACS).

Explaining the disturbing trend, Dr D'Sa said that HIV in Goa was no

longer restricted to the high risk groups like commercial sex

workers but had extended to the general population.

" We have to bring about a behaviour change in the general

population. That is the only answer to this problem, " said Dr

D'Sa. " The GSACS is already conducting awareness and education

programmes in the state. We are now strengthening these in the rural

areas by going to the women groups, educational institutions and

local bodies. We are also tapping the electronic media, " he said

further.

The predominant route for the HIV virus in Goa continues to be sex.

According to the GSACS reports, 92 per cent contracted the disease

through sex. The remaining 8 per cent contracted it through other

modes; parent-to-child (6.3 per cent), infected syringes and needles

(0.7 per cent) and blood and blood products (0.5 per cent).

" If the increasing trend of HIV in India continues, it is feared

that the 8 per cent figure may shoot up to 20 to 25 per cent by

2020. That means the general population will be at a very high risk

if the trend is not reversed. All this is however based on

estimates, " Dr D'Sa added.

While the reporting of new HIV infections in Goa is fairly accurate,

the exact number of AIDS deaths is not clear.

For the initial check-ups, patients normally to the government

facilities, but later some go to private doctors and when they die,

their deaths are not always reported despite a notification making

it compulsory for doctors to report AIDS deaths.

According to official records, the cumulative number of AIDS deaths

in Goa up to September 2005 was 159. Needless to say, experts

consider this to be an under-reported figure.

But a figure of the AIDS death toll for 2005 from the ART (Anti-

Retroviral Treatment) Centre at the Goa Medical College, Bambolim is

frightening. The ART Centre was started in March 2005 and till

December 2005, 212 patients were put on ART. Of these, 14 defaulted

on the treatment, 82 developed opportunistic infections and 23 died.

This means that during the 10-month period last year, 23 HIV

patients perished from AIDS.

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