A recent statistics published by the Mizoram State Aids Control Society has said that 1883 are HIV infected among the 8,590 intravenous/injecting drug users in Mizoram.
The Mizoram SACS has listed as many as 8,590 IDUs in Mizoram till April 30. Among the 1883 HIV positives, 1306 are being treated by ART, MSACS said.
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According to officials of the Mizoram State Aids Control Society (MSACS), about 70 per cent of HIV-positive people were infected through unprotected sex, followed by sharing needles at 32 per cent.
Among injecting drug users (high risk group), Mizoram recorded the highest rate in the country with 19.81 per cent.
MSACS Project Director Dr Lalmalsawmi Sailo said that Oral/Opioid Substitution Therapy clinic should also be able to give ART treatment to the positives.
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“There are many HIV positives who have stopped taking ART treatment, it is better to introduce the treatment at OST clinics. International Training & Education Centre for Health and FHi360 have taken up the policy of clubbing ART treatment and OST treatment, I hope this initiative will be fruitful,” Dr Lalmalsawmi Sailo said.
Among the eight districts in Mizoram AIzawl and Champhai districts have now run both the treatment in one clinic which according to officials “is very handy.”
The state project director said that efforts would be given to incorporate OST and ART treatment in all the other districts of Mizoram.
Mizoram has recorded the highest AIDS/HIV-positive incidence rate with over 14,000 people found to be living with the disease since the first case was detected in the state in October 1990, HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2016-2017 of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report published in December last year said.