Nearly 32,000 HIV Patients in Assam: Health Official

OUR CORRESPONDENT 

SIVASAGAR: Along with the rest of the state, World AIDS Day was observed in Sivasagar on Sunday. A public awareness meeting was organized at the Sivasagar Urban Health Service Centre by the voluntary organizations SHAPE and Bhagya Lakshmi. The session was presided over by renowned physician Dr. Ranjit Gogoi.

Dr. Naba Talukdar, consultant at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of the Sivasagar Civil Hospital, also addressed the gathering. In his speech, Dr. Rupam Kakoti highlighted that since the discovery of AIDS in 1981, approximately 88 million people worldwide have been infected, with 4 million deaths recorded. He revealed that currently, Assam has around 32,000 HIV-positive individuals. Dr. Kakoti emphasized that awareness is the key to prevention, which is why December 1 has been observed as World AIDS Day since 1988. He also suggested that people over 60 suffering from diabetes should undergo HIV testing.

Another speaker, Dr. Dwijen Koch, stressed the importance of not discriminating against AIDS patients. He explained that social stigma can cause significant mental stress for those affected. Dr. Koch recommended that individuals experiencing symptoms like weight loss, tuberculosis, or chronic diarrhoea should be tested for HIV. Additionally, Parag Goswami, director of SHAPE, Jafri Ahmed of Bhagya Lakshmi, and prominent physician Dr. Uday Rajkonwar also addressed the gathering, highlighting the need for compassion and awareness in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Also read: Assam: Drug Use Worsens State HIV Scenario

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