Agartala, December 7, 2023: At least five out of 150 samples tested daily in GBP hospital are found HIV positive, an official in the hospital said on Thursday.
Addressing a routine press conference at the hospital premises, Head of Microbiology Department (HoD) in GBP hospital, Prof. Dr Tapan Majumder shared the alearming insights.
Comparing the data of five years back in the hospital’s microbiology department, he said, “At that time, when the department could conduct only 25 to 30 HIV tests per month, 7 to 8 cases were found to be positive. The hospital now conducts 150 sample tests daily for HIV, out of which at least five are found positive and sometimes it reaches 15.”
Referring to the victim demographics, Dr Majumder said that the highest number of positive samples originated from the blood of individuals aged 19 to 25 years.
He mentioned that a majority of those testing positive for HIV are students attending schools and colleges and a significant portion among them are Intravenous Drug Users (IVDU).
The Head of the Microbiology Department highlighted challenges in treating HIV patients, stating that many, after diagnosis, avoid seeking treatment.
He said, to address this, the department initiated a campaign aiming to identify HIV-positive individuals, by testing 95 percent of the state’s population.
The plan involves bringing 95 percent of diagnosed patients into treatment and ensuring they reach a healthy stage for 95 percent under treatment patients, preventing further virus spread, and enhancing lifespan.
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