Chandigarh: HIV scare gets serious

While HIV prevalence rate above 5 per cent is considered dangerous, in Chandigarh it stands at a high 17.6 per cent. Add to it the threat posed by the presence of 3,970 sex workers, 1,200 homosexuals, 1,112 injecting drug users and eunuchs in the city. The disturbing figures thrown up by a survey of the State AIDS Control Society (UT) has set the alarm bells ringing.

According to Dr Sonia Trikha, Project Director of the Society, more than 40 samples out of 250 collected last year tested HIV positive. Referring to the presence of large number of female sex workers in Chandigarh, Trikha said, besides the slum areas, sex workers are also operating from proper residential areas. She said many are coming to the city from places like Ropar. “We have provided 600 condom depots in different places and are trying to educate people regarding the use of condom. The use of condoms have increased in recent past,” she added. While efforts are being also made to motivate the injecting drug users to quit the habit, they are also being provided with new syringes.