Incidence of AIDS rising in Sikkim

Gangtok, Dec 1 (UNI) The State health department has expressed concern over the growing incidences of AIDS in Sikkim.

The number of HIV positive cases have increased from last year's 41 to 60 this year, sources said.

In 2004 the number of HIV positive cases in the state was only 31.

The State AIDS Control Society (SSAC) project director R L Sharma said this year the society had conducted 9200 blood tests, of which 60 people have been detected as positive so far.

He said the number is likely to increase as reports from other areas was yet to come.

Of the 60 HIV positives, ten were of 15-19 age group and 17 were female.

The east district topped the list with 54 cases, of which 33 were reported from here.

Five cases are reported from Singtam, three in Rangpo, eight in Army Cantonment, two each in Ravangala, Jorethan and one each from Paykong, Khamdong, Melli, Subuk and Burtuk.

As many as 11 full blown AIDS are detected in the state and four have died.

Dr Sharma said efforts were on to arrest the spread of the disease through a massive public awareness campaign and tackle the disease by providing required medicare.

He said around 60 NGOs and community based organisations were involved in the war against AIDs in different parts of the state.

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