Along with the rest of the parts of the world, Tripura on Friday observed World AIDS Day with a special focus on prevention of AIDS disease through more awareness campaigns.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Friday flagged off a rally here at Agartala Umakanta Academy premises, organised by the Tripura State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the State Health and Family Welfare department and Tripura State NSS Cell.
Addressing the mass rally, the Chief Minister stressed on generating more awareness campaigns across the state through all possible ways to prevent AIDS. He said that the state recorded a total of 5,269 HIV positive patients till October 2023 and among them 1,022 are women, 4,246 are men and 1 third gender. Among them a total of 575 students are also found HIV positive, he said.
Expressing concern over the rising HIV positives in the state, Dr Saha said, “To prevent this disease, the state government has laid emphasis on AIDS awareness, counselling and testing. There are Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers in 24 hospitals of the state. Moreover, 133 hospitals have Facility Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers and 3 PPP Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers.”
“Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Centre (PPTCT) has been launched at Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS,” he said.