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In a recent social post, X user shared a message stating that Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive, and 47 of them died. This social media post went viral and people reacted with their opinions.
On the other hand, the Health & Family Welfare Government of Tripura clarified about the viral post.
It is reported that Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive and 47 of them died. This report is misleading because the total figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024. Please note it as an official clarification from Govt of Tripura.
Health & Family Welfare Government of Tripura
The government of Tripura also highlighted in their statement that HIV/AIDS infected 1790 persons with a positivity rate of 0.92 percent during 2023-24. During 2022-23, new HIV/AIDS infection was detected among 1847 people with a positivity rate of infection of 0.89 percent.
Samarpita Datta who is the Director of Tripura State AIDS Control Society said, in 2022-23, 67 people including 2 students died, and in 2023-24, 44 people died after being infected by HIV/AIDS. Datta also revealed the reason behind the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases in youth and said, "HIV/AIDS is not spread by air or water. It can spread through pregnant women, infected blood, injectable drugs, and sharing needles. We work with 14 departments to combat the social stigma associated with this disease". "we register around 1,500 new cases annually" she added.
The students with HIV/AIDS were from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities who take injectable drugs as per the Tripura State AIDS Control Society.
The officials also said that in most cases children with HIV belong to affluent families and their parents are in government service and don't hesitate to fulfill their demand. Such negligence and carelessness towards their children leads to their children falling for addiction and it is too late to make them realize. The students with HIV/AIDS were from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities who take injectable drugs as per the Tripura State AIDS Control Society.
Datta also claimed that HIV infection is nothing new in this state.
The Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr. Manik Saha who is also an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon and played a key role at a medical college claimed that before he became a Chief Minister, the State Government had taken preventive measures against HIV/AIDS spread in Tripura.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Tabsum Amjad Baig/MSM)
