The Mizoram government has sought logistic and financial assistance from the UN to fight against high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state, officials said on Friday.
Mizoram health minister R Lalthangliana, who is currently touring the United States, called on United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) director Regan Hofmann and other officials in Washington DC.
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He informed them about the current scenario in Mizoram and the government’s efforts to check the rapid spreading of AIDS in the state.
“During his meeting with the UNAIDS officials, Lalthangliana urged them for financial and technical assistance besides logistic support”, the officials added.
The UNAIDS officials assured the minister of all possible help and apprised him of their willingness to hold a joint meeting between officials of Mizoram and UNAIDS to study the present status of AIDS.
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Over 11 lakh people in Mizoram are affected by AIDS, the highest in the country and it is estimated that at least 9 people are diagnosed with HIV positive every day in the state.
Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) officials said, “Over 2,400 people have died due to AIDS and a total of 20,976 HIV positive cases have been detected since 1990 when the first case was detected in the state.
“Over 67 per cent of HIV-positive cases were sexually transmitted, while about 28.12 per cent cases were transmitted through sharing needles by intravenous drug users,” they added.
“The rate wt which the disease is spreading in the state is alarming,” they reiterated.
The state government along with NGOs and churches is making massive efforts to fight the menace by spreading awareness.
It has also decided to introduce a chapter on AIDS in the school curriculum from the new academic session (2020-2021).