Mysore/Mysuru: Despite launching awareness drives on AIDS and its consequences among the public, Mysuru district stands in the 16th position in the number of infections, said District AIDS Control Officer Dr. Mohammed Shiraj Ahmed to SOM.

The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 is ‘End inequalities. End AIDS.’ With a special focus on reaching people left behind, WHO and its partners are highlighting the growing inequalities in access to essential HIV services. “It is only with the co-operation from the public, the number of infections can be brought to zero, otherwise the target cannot be met,” Dr. Shiraj said.

Children born to infected persons are safe: In the year 2019-20, a total of 1,33,495 people undertook test for AIDS infection out of which 982 persons tested positive. Out of 982 positive persons, 24 were pregnant women.

In 2020-21, 91,953 persons took the test out of which 521 tested positive for the infection. In October this year, tests were conducted on 68,819 persons out of which 462 tested positive. This year, a total of 45,636 pregnant women were tested and 43 of them tested positive for AIDS. Out of 43 positive pregnant women, 11 were newly infected, while 32 were infected earlier. It is happy to note that all the children born to these infected pregnant women are safe, Dr. Shiraj said.

Dr. Shiraj said that Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres are functioning in Nanjangud, Hunsur, T. Narasipur, Periyapatna, K.R. Nagar and H.D. Kote  Taluk Hospitals, SVYM Hospital in Saragur, Community Health Centres in Bannur, Talakad, Saligrama and Jayanagar Health Centre in Mysuru. Also, two Community Health Centres have been established in the district where HIV infected patients are being treated. Treatment is also being provided in ART Centres at K.R. Hospital, Asha Kirana Hospital and JSS Hospital.