HIV cases dip, Bagalkot smiles

Hubli: Though Bagalkot has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of people with HIV in the State, the district has also been successful in remarkably reducing HIV infections in the last few years.

As many as 30,000 HIV patients have registered their name with the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre in the district since 2002. There is a 50 percent reduction in new HIV infections compared to the last five years. The prevalence of HIV among pregnant women has reduced to just 108 this year as against 318 in 2008.

The disease is still rampant in Mudhol, Jamkhandi and Bagalkot taluks due to prostitution, said sources. Mudhol, Jamkhandi and Sindagi taluks where a majority of farmers produce sugarcane, attract farm labourers from Sangli, Miraj and other parts of Maharashtra state, leading to a rise in HIV-infected people. Drought-hit Badami, Hunagund and Bagalkot taluks have been witnessing migration of poor people to Goa and other places in search of employment. These people are prone to HIV infections as they live for months away from their family to earn their livelihood.

“Cash-rich sugarcane growers, truckers who transport sugarcane and migrant workers, who are away from their families for months, are easy prey for the deadly virus. However, the rate of HIV infections has come down due to extensive awareness campaigns launched by NGOs and the state government in the last few years”, said Bagalkot district Aids Prevention and Control unit programme officer Dr S.H. Arunachi.

Several NGOs like Jeevan Jyothi are engaged in conducting door-to-door campaigns and street plays in rural areas. The Devadasi system which is one of the reasons for the high prevalence of AIDS, has reduced to a great extent. There are also plans to open more ART centres at Aminagad, Galagali and Lokapura in the district to provide treatment to patients. The Integrated Council and Testing Centre has been linked with ART centres for proper diagnosis. Two wards have been kept aside for proper treatment of HIV patients in Bagalkot district hospital.