Tripura HIV Cases: Tripura is facing a severe public health crisis, with 47 student deaths attributed to HIV and a total of 828 HIV-positive students identified, according to a senior official from the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS).
Of the 828 HIV-positive students, 572 are alive, while many others have moved out of Tripura to pursue higher education in prestigious institutions. The situation has become increasingly dire, with the TSACS reporting that five to seven new HIV cases are being detected every single day.
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In a recent media workshop organised jointly by the Tripura Journalists Union, Web Media Forum and TSACS, the Joint Director of TSACS revealed the alarming statistics and the underlying causes of this epidemic. It was disclosed that students from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities across the state have been found to be engaging in drug abuse, which has been identified as the primary driver behind the rise in HIV cases.
Addressing the media, the senior TSACS official stated that the data has been collected from a total of 164 health facilities across the state. The overall HIV scenario in Tripura is deeply concerning, with the total number of people registered in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres reaching 8,729 as of May 2024. Of these, 5,674 are actively suffering from HIV, with 4,570 being men and 1,103 women. Only one of these patients is transgender.
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Bhattacharjee, a senior TSACS official, attributed the surge in HIV cases to the alarming levels of drug abuse, particularly among students from affluent families and government employees. By the time these families realise that their children have fallen victim to the scourge of drug addiction, it is often too late to intervene.