Bhubaneswar, December 1: Over 50,000 active HIV/ AIDS cases have been reported in Odisha, with Ganjam district leading the state with the highest number of infections at 19,155. In contrast, Sonepur has the lowest number, with just 146 cases, according to Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, who spoke on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
The state has been witnessing a gradual decline in the number of AIDS patients, and the government has set an ambitious target to achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030, Mahaling added. He emphasized that AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) cases have been reported in all 30 districts of the state, highlighting the government's commitment to reducing the spread of the disease.
AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, which severely weakens the body’s immune system. The first cases of HIV were detected in the migrant-prone Ganjam district, where over 1,000 people have been testing positive annually. However, the district has seen a decline in the HIV positivity rate over the past five years.
Despite the improvement, Ganjam still has the highest number of AIDS cases in the state, noted Bijay Kumar Panda, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Ganjam. He also mentioned that young people remain a vulnerable group, and the district is focusing efforts on raising awareness among them by visiting colleges and using social media platforms.
To further curb the spread of HIV, the Odisha government is intensifying preventive measures and promoting awareness across the state. The health department is committed to the goal of preventing new HIV infections by 2030, Minister Mahaling said.
