Belagavi: An alarming rise of HIV positive patients has been registered in Belagavi district with 1,541 persons infected by the disease within a span of six months between April and September this year. According to official sources from Health Department, the district has 36,207 persons suffering from HIV virus.
Although, several measures have been taken by government and private agencies to fight the disease, more than 4,687 persons have succumbed to the virus in the last one decade in Belagavi district. A recent study has shown an alarming spread of this disease among the younger generation in Belagavi as most of the infected are in the age group of 20 to 40 years.
The study also revealed that the spread of HIV is predominant among working members of families and is adversely affecting the financial condition of many families, particularly in rural segments. Due to various reasons, HIV positive cases are found more in Gokak, Chikkodi, Saudatti and Athani. Several NGOs are working in vulnerable spots in the affected areas to create awareness among people.
Activists from different organisations working in the field attribute the rapid spread of disease and deaths due to lack of effective awareness campaigns at regular intervals. An NGO, Mahesh Foundation, run by Mahesh Jadhav has been working relentlessly to protect several HIV infected children for the last seven years in Belagavi city.
The foundation, launched with merely seven HIV infected children seven years ago, now has 55 AIDS affected children. It is also involved in housing many orphan kids besides extending special treatment and facilities to the HIV infected kids.
The foundation feels that the people infected by the virus could live longer without complications if they get regular medication.
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