Earlier this month, a senior official of the Tripura AIDS Control Society (TSACS) claimed that 828 students tested positive for HIV in Tripura and 47 of them died. The official claimed that 572 of the students are still alive, while many also left the state to pursue higher studies.
In a post on social media platform X.com, the Tripura Government's Health and Family Welfare Department called it “misleading”.
"The total figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024," he said.
According to TSACS officials, the rise in HIV cases could be due to injection drug abuse among students.
Speaking to IANS, Dr Ishwar Gilada, a leading HIV expert, said that "it is just the tip of the iceberg (IDU)."
IDU is known to have a faster and stronger effect than drugs that are swallowed, smoked, or inhaled.
Dr. Gilada stated that, in addition to HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B and syphilis, among others, are also easily transmitted through IDUs, much more efficiently than HIV.
“In addition to sharing needles, IDUs have another risk in considerable proportion, that is, indiscriminate and overly unprotected sex. This further fuels the spread of other STIs, as well as HIV infection,” said the expert.
Dr Basavaraj S. Kumbar, consultant internal medicine at Bengaluru's Aster Whitefield Hospital, termed the incident of losing 47 youth and hundreds more infected as “a terrible tragedy”.
"The issue also raises concerns about injecting drug use and should serve as an advertisement not to do so," he told IANS.
HIV is a devastating disease. It is a serious infection that erodes quality of life by damaging the immune system, making its victims susceptible to opportunistic infections in addition to other health complications.
“Although modern medicine makes it possible for people with HIV to live long and productive lives, it requires constant medication and monitoring by medical experts. The virus weakens the body's immunities, thereby exposing people to attacks from other disease-causing agents. This is a lifelong struggle,” said Dr. Kumbar.
Meanwhile, Dr Gilada, HIV/STD consultant at Unison Medicare and Research Centre, Mumbai, asked the state health authorities for “comprehensive screening and screening of all children and efficient treatment of every infection”.
“The major HIV awareness and prevention campaigns that ran between 2000 and 2010 in India no longer exist. Children born during that period and after, who now reach adolescence and adulthood, have escaped prevention campaigns and now become victims of HIV and other STIs.
“There is little attention to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of other STIs. All of this has led to new infections across India. More than 70 percent of new infections occur in underserved communities; "They face an extreme degree of stigma and discrimination," said the doctor.
Dr Kumbar said prevention is key and highlighted the need to educate young people about the dangers of drugs and reinforce the message about unsafe injection practices.
“It's also important to make sure they have access to support systems and positive outlets for their energy. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, seek help. Counseling and rehabilitation centers can provide the support needed to overcome addiction and live a healthy life,” he stated.
In a post on social media platform X.com, the Tripura Government's Health and Family Welfare Department called it “misleading”.
"The total figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024," he said.
According to TSACS officials, the rise in HIV cases could be due to injection drug abuse among students.
Speaking to IANS, Dr Ishwar Gilada, a leading HIV expert, said that "it is just the tip of the iceberg (IDU)."
IDU is known to have a faster and stronger effect than drugs that are swallowed, smoked, or inhaled.
Dr. Gilada stated that, in addition to HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B and syphilis, among others, are also easily transmitted through IDUs, much more efficiently than HIV.
“In addition to sharing needles, IDUs have another risk in considerable proportion, that is, indiscriminate and overly unprotected sex. This further fuels the spread of other STIs, as well as HIV infection,” said the expert.
Dr Basavaraj S. Kumbar, consultant internal medicine at Bengaluru's Aster Whitefield Hospital, termed the incident of losing 47 youth and hundreds more infected as “a terrible tragedy”.
"The issue also raises concerns about injecting drug use and should serve as an advertisement not to do so," he told IANS.
HIV is a devastating disease. It is a serious infection that erodes quality of life by damaging the immune system, making its victims susceptible to opportunistic infections in addition to other health complications.
“Although modern medicine makes it possible for people with HIV to live long and productive lives, it requires constant medication and monitoring by medical experts. The virus weakens the body's immunities, thereby exposing people to attacks from other disease-causing agents. This is a lifelong struggle,” said Dr. Kumbar.
Meanwhile, Dr Gilada, HIV/STD consultant at Unison Medicare and Research Centre, Mumbai, asked the state health authorities for “comprehensive screening and screening of all children and efficient treatment of every infection”.
“The major HIV awareness and prevention campaigns that ran between 2000 and 2010 in India no longer exist. Children born during that period and after, who now reach adolescence and adulthood, have escaped prevention campaigns and now become victims of HIV and other STIs.
“There is little attention to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of other STIs. All of this has led to new infections across India. More than 70 percent of new infections occur in underserved communities; "They face an extreme degree of stigma and discrimination," said the doctor.
Dr Kumbar said prevention is key and highlighted the need to educate young people about the dangers of drugs and reinforce the message about unsafe injection practices.
“It's also important to make sure they have access to support systems and positive outlets for their energy. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, seek help. Counseling and rehabilitation centers can provide the support needed to overcome addiction and live a healthy life,” he stated.
