• Abhijit Nath, NET Correspondent, Tripura 

Agartala, July 20, 2022 : A study report released by the Tripura State AIDS Control Society recently revealed that about 500 people in Agartala city are identified who are taking injectable drugs and among them, 400 are marked as HIV positive while mostly hailed from 16 to 24 years of age.

In this regard, Tripura AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the state government on Tuesday organized a sensitization program with all the councillors of the Agartala Municipal Corporation including Mayor Dipak Majumder to make aware about the increasing number of HIV cases due to injectable drugs.

While briefing the media persons, state surveillance officer (SSO) and Tripura State AIDS Control Society’s project director in-charge Dr Deep Kumar Debbarma expressed his concern over the alarming situation of HIV positive cases in and around Agartala city due to high usage of injectable drugs.

“In a bid to control this rise of injectable drugs and its usage in the capital city of Tripura, a sensitization program has been organized today in presence of all the Councillors of Agartala Municipal Corporation regarding HIV/AIDS. Later, discussion will be held in all the 51 wards of the municipal corporation and the present situation would be reviewed”, he added.

Citing the status of surge in the injectable drug users, Dr Debbarma said “During the past years, the number of HIV-positive cases was high in West Tripura district in comparison to other seven districts. However, there has been a significant rise in the positive cases’ numbers in and around Agartala city in the last few months.”

Looking into the miserable condition of the society and involvement of youths especially, the doctor said “The Health department alone cannot be able to stop the rise. Here, people’s representatives will also have to take the responsibilities on their shoulders against the usage of injectable drugs. The situation reached an alarming stage as the number of HIV positive cases is high only due to injectable drugs.”

He said “In the AMC areas, around 300 HIV-positive cases are present and the number has significantly increased in the last three months. To prevent the further spread of HIV positive cases, stringent actions will be initiated against the usage of injectable drugs. The entire situation will be closely monitored to control the situation and work started from the micro-level.”

This awareness programme was held in Gomati district on Tuesday last and was organized at Kailashahar under Unakoti district on Wednesday. Plans are being made based on the area and it is hopeful that the digits of HIV cases will decline soon, he also added.

Dr Debbarma further stated that people in more than 50 percent of 51 wards under AMC are taking drugs through the same syringes and the majority of injectable drug users are between the age group of 16-24 years.