Uttar Pradesh HIV Prevalence: Figures tell a different story

August 2, 2006

Manisha Sharma. Lucknow, August 2

THOUGH THE prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases is reported to be low in

Uttar Pradesh, the virus is spreading faster than the projected

figures of the Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.

A study conducted by the Family Planning Association of India in

collaboration with the Action Aid shows that the data of the

Nationwide Sentinel Surveillance report, to access the spread of

HIV/AIDS in UP, is far from the ground realities and raises

questions over the validity of the Government figures. The Action

Aid study on `Scenario of HIV vulnerability and prevalence in Uttar

Pradesh' conducted in five districts of UP — Lucknow, Azamgarh,

Chitrakoot, Etah and Lakhimpur Kheri having outward migration —

reports low prevalence of HIV cases.

The State reported 726 AIDS cases in 2005 as against 375 registered

in 2004. The situation can take a turn for the worse in 2006 as

around 200 HIV cases have been reported in the first three months.

The Action Aid report points out that people prefer to shell out Rs

250 at a private lab for HIV testing and counselling over a

Government Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) where the

test charge is a paltry Rs 10.

In the study spread over a period of four months, a total of 2913

people visited Government VCTCs, out of which 511 were found

positive. However, in the same time frame, a total of 58,831 people

visited private pathologies, out of which 1588 were reported as HIV

positive.

According to the report, testing kits are not available for months

together in various districts. It also points out that the virus is

spreading from high-risk to low-risk areas. The report adds that

nearly 90 per cent of the women become vulnerable through their

husbands. This group, especially those living in the rural areas,

needs to be armed with knowledge regarding safe sex, suggests the

study.

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