Ganjam: Even as we observe World AIDS Day on December 1 to create awareness about the medical condition and reinforce our resolve to end the disease by 2030, there is good news for the people of Odisha, especially Ganjam district. The latest statistics show that the number of AIDS/HIV patients in Ganjam has been declining gradually.
The theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is “Let Communities Lead” and the communities in Ganjam, which accounts for 33 per cent of all the AIDS cases in Odisha, have been leading well.
As per the latest information sheet of the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), Ganjam, 6,460 HIV+ cases were detected in Ganjam up to 2008 and the figure has gradually dropped to 425 till October 2023. At present, Berhampur (40) has the highest number of HIV+ patients in Ganjam, while JN Prasad (8) and Patrapur (9) blocks have the lowest number of patients. All blocks of the district have witnessed a steady decline in the number of HIV+ patients since 2009.
This has been possible owing to continuous testing, counseling, and treatment of those affected by the virus in the region.
AIDS had assumed an alarming proportion in Ganjam till 2009 when testing and counseling facilities were poor. As a result, the district detected a total of 17,950 HIV+ patients till October 2023 compared to 60,886 cases detected across Odisha since 1988. This year alone, Ganjam detected 425 cases compared to 1,303 cases in 2010 and 1,447 in 2011.
The AIDS awareness campaign funded by the Central government, the Odisha State AIDS Awareness Control Committee together with NACO since 2004 has played a vital role in making the people conscious of the disease and educating them on how to avoid and treat it.
In addition, the state government’s initiative to conduct free blood tests at NIDAN and the NIRAMAY centers and provide free medicines at hospitals have helped to reduce the number of AIDS cases in Odisha, especially Ganjam.
