Rise of HIV cases in Kokrajhar

: Kokrajhar, December 01, 2010

Bodo heartland Kokrajhar has recorded strip rise in HIV/AIDS cases in the last few years. As per official data with the health department in Kokrajhar, there are 66 cases of HIV in the district with 31 cases of AIDS. In 2005, the number was nine (9) which rose to twenty seven (27) in 2009. The latest record saw a high of 66 cases with 31 cases of AIDS. The number includes 37 male, 23 female and six children. Till now 4 were dead of the disease. Sources said the actual number is much higher than the reported cases available with the department as these were only reported cases found during blood screening.

Dr A K Brahma, in-charge of Blood Bank RNB Civil Hospital Kokrajhar said that the HIV/ AIDS cases were found during blood screening test at the blood bank at Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital. Terming the raise in number of in the HIV/AIDS case as alarming, Dr Brahma said what is more concern is some of these cases are from village and remote areas which were unheard earlier. He however said the rise in number of cases could be because people are more aware now and coming forward for screening.

The new findings have come as a shock to the health workers saying ‘if the number is so high when detected it blood test among few hundreds, image what would be the results if thousands were to be tested. Dr Brahma said with awareness the only treatment to reach the people about the people, the department is organizing awareness programme like ‘targetting intervention progrmme with NGOS’ in vulnerable areas. Meanwhile the World AIDS day was observed in Kokrajhar with various programmes. The Discovery Club, a leading NGO in Kokrajhr organized a awareness rally today in the heart of Kokrajhar town. NEDAN Foundation, another Kokrajhar based NGO working with HIV/AIDS and trafficking issues have also organized an awareness meeting at Onthaigwlao near Kokrajhar among the people on the disease.