HIV Rates Decline in Kashmir Valley

Despite claims made by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), the number of HIV positive cases in Kashmir valley has reduced drastically, according to Dr M A Wani, the Director Health Services and Project Director J&K State AIDS Prevention Control Society (JKSAPCS). NACO had earlier warned that 40,000 people in Kashmir would be infected with HIV in next two years and that 20,000 people in the State would die from the disease by the end of 2015.

However Dr Wani said these numbers were not right. “The epidemic (AIDS) here is under control and Kashmir is the least hit area in the country,” he told Rising Kashmir.  “Last time we collected 7800 samples from various quarters of the state and none was found positive."

According to Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, 4846 HIV test samples taken in the year 2008, of which only 3 were positive, while 4840 samples were taken in 2009 of which none were positive.


Source-Medindia
RAS