13 people have died due to HIV/ AIDS in Sikkim

Gangtok , July 6:As per the information received from Sikkim State Aids Control Society (SACS) till date a total of 13 people have died due to HIV/ AIDS in Sikkim, while 213 others are suffering from HIV/ AIDS.While speaking to Sikkim Mail Project Director Sikkim State Aids Control Society Mr.Uttam Pradhan informed that 138 male and 75 female are affected with HIV/AIDS in the state and 13 people have died so far.Mr. Pradhan further more informed that district-wise breakup showed that East Sikkim alone accounts over 80 percent of the HIV/ AIDS cases totaling to 175 patients, whereas in North Sikkim its only 4, South 20 and West 6 patients respectively.There are 115 male and 68 female patient in East district where as in West district 4 male and 2 female, North District 3 male and 1 female and in South District its 16 male and 4 female infected with HIV/ AIDS. According to Mr. Pradhan as much as 82 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases are transmitted due to sexual reasons, while drug abuse is the second biggest reason. Informing further Mr. Pradhan said that department has been providing counseling, suggesting and above that generating awareness amongst the people regarding the HIV/ AIDS using various means and methods but some people do not use condom or adopt preventive measures.

 Mr. Pradhan also stated that SSACS have around 13 counseling centre in the state along with six clinics for testing sexually transmitted disease (STD) but people do not come forward for counseling or testing.Furthermore Mr. Pradhan mentioned that due to migration number of HIV/

AIDS cases has been increasing in the state and similarly the coming of sex workers from out side state has also turned out to be the increase of patient in state lately.Department is playing a vital role in generating awareness amongst the people regarding the dreadful disease but the rise in patient on a continuous manner in state is a big challenge to be tackled stated Mr. Pradhan. Under the red ribbon campaign the department reached the far flung villages of the state and even spread awareness to the people about this disease but every positive step carried out by the department is wasted as the number of patient is increasing which is of concern now informed Mr. Pradhan.HIV/ AIDS has become a major problem across the globe and the only way to get rid of the disease is that every body must take the responsibility and play important role by creating awareness to the mass added Mr. Pradhan .Mr. Pradhan further informed that they had organized three day long work shop in the capital few days back where numerous representatives from district attended and it is hoped that the participants will definitely go to the grass root level and sensitize the general public.

HIV/AIDS count reach 157 in Sikkim

GANGTOK, November 27: As the whole world joins hand in observing the World AIDS Day with the vow of preventing the ailment on December 1, the toll of HIV/AIDS patients in Sikkim has reached 157.
The year 2009 alone recorded 26 HIV/AIDS cases in Sikkim, which authorities reveal is less than it was recorded last year. The Sikkim State Aids Control Society had recorded the highest number of cases in 2008, which numbered to 46. However, no cases of HIV positive were recorded in 1996.
The latest SSACS statistics reveals that 102 males and 55 females are infected with HIV.
According to the statistics, East District dominates the numbers with 91 male and 51 female cases while the West District records the least number with 1 male and 1 female case.
No female with HIV/AIDS have been detected in North District except for 2 male cases.
The data further reveals that 47 persons aged between 30-39 years are victims of HIV/AIDS, 2 below the age of 10, 1 case between 11-19 years, 31 cases aged between 20-29, 17 cases between 40-49years and 4 above 50 years.
“132 HIV/AIDS patients are infected through sexual mode while 11 are through injecting drug, 3 from infected parent to child, 5 from infected blood transfusion and 6 cases are still waiting for the finding of it’s mode of transmission,” sources said.
As a step towards spreading awareness to the people, there are integrated counselling and testing centers in Sikkim including one mobile van ICTC which are also providing facility to prevent parent to child transmission, said Namgyal T. Sherpa, SSACS Project Director.
He added that the AIDS Day celebration would be low key in the Capital this year with few rallies and awareness programmes. “This time we have got less fund allocation from the National AIDS Control Organization so there would be no major events related with World AIDS Day,” the project director said.

AIDS tally in Darjeeling & Sikkim shoots above 350

DARJEELING & GANGTOK, September 19: While Sikkim is grappling with a rising number of HIV/AIDS persons, the neighouring hill region of Darjeeling is also witnessing a surge in the number of persons infected with the dreaded disease.


Latest official figures point out that around 279 persons in Darjeeling hilly region have been infected with HIV/AIDS disease, a bitter offshoot of a disintegrating society here.

Informed people are at a loss as how to stem the rot and convince the people of rural areas are still rooted to traditional beliefs and taboos. Despite such odds, NGOs here like Sankar Foundation are working to spread awareness among the people besides providing for the medical care of the infected persons.

The Sankar Foundation has been sensitizing the people from rural areas with public awareness programmes besides hosting training camps for persons interested to work in this field. A similar training camp of five days concluded today here with focus on creating a strong awareness among the people about the dreaded diseases.

During the training, the participants were trained how to provide support and to sensitize the infected persons on their rights, said the NGO secretary Sankar Mani Rai.

Mr. Rai said that 6,500 persons have done their blood tests till now at Darjeeling under Integrated Counseling Testing Centre from 2002.

Meanwhile, according a report, Latest figures available with the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society (SSACS) mentions that a total of 60 persons in the state have been identified as HIV positive ~ an increase of six from the figures given in September by an NGO.

The society had conducted 9,200 tests so far in East and South districts and figures are expected to increase with more results yet to come from other districts. Out of 11 full blown AIDS cases, four have already died.

In another disturbing fact, it appears that the tentacles of HIV disease has now infiltrated the 15-19 age group in Sikkim with 10 positive cases being reported from the above age group. Two minors have also been affected with HIV. From the 60 HIV positive persons, 17 were female. Unsafe sex is the dominant factor for spread of the disease.Figures also point out that East district, the most populated region of the state tops the list with 54 HIV positive cases. Out of it, Gangtok has 33 cases.

“There are also 8 army personal who army cantonment who had been detected with HIV-AIDS”

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inks MOU with Sikkim Forests Dept.

Gangtok: Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management department, Government of Sikkim, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an official development agency of Government of Japan . JICA has carried out a feasibility study for Integrated Project for Sustainable Development of Forest Resources in Sikkim. JICA submitted its Interim Report to the examining committee chaired by Chief Secretary of Sikkim here at Forest Secretariat Conference Hall, Deorali on Thursday. Secretaries of several departments are members of the committee. Mr. Karma Gyatso, Additional Chief Secretary was chief guest of the programme. The Japanese team was headed by Dr. Toshifumi Serizawa included members Dr. Pralad and Mr. B Yonzon, Biodiversity Conservation experts of JICA study team, Lionel Becheral, Ecotourism and Marketing expert. The study team made a presentation on the Project. The team’s report is mainly focused on ecotourism policy, ecotourism marketing, improvisation of ecotourism operations in the state and village tourism. The team will submit Draft Final Report in October 2009.

Prashant Tamang to be roped in for AIDS awareness

New Delhi: After winning the hearts of millions and attracting frenzied passion in the north east, Indian Idol stars may now be roped in for a purpose.
The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) is planning to use their star appeal in the north east, to propel their AIDS awareness campaign.
“This is aimed at those young people who continue in such risky relations but they should not get HIV in the process at least,” says NACO Director General Sujata Rao.
No confirmation has come from the stars yet, but this social marketing is only one aspect of the AIDS program.
The Australian Government has committed $8.9 million to the four states of Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram for tackling AIDS, with the help of the UN and the Government of Sweden.
“The UN is there to organize this technical assistance and capacity building. We are fully behind it,” says UNAIDS country coordinator Denis Broun.
It’s a known fact across northeastern states that the churches decry the usage of condoms.
Therefore for the teams working on the AIIDS program and also perhaps for the Indian idols, if they agree to carry on the campaign, a tough road lies ahead.

HIV- AIDS case rises three fold in Sikkim

Gangtok: The numbers of HIV positives has been increasing at an alarming rate in Sikkim. There are at present 78 HIV positives among whom 55 are males and 23 females. The number of full blown AIDS has reached 27, 21 males and 6 females, according to the latest information.This was revealed by Dr. Passang Tamang, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to Sikkim State Aids Control Society (SSACS). Amongst the 78 HIV positives, 28 have been reported to SSACS while 8 are under treatment and remaining is either dead or untraced. The 8 HIV positives under treatment have been given anti-retroviral drugs which suppresses the viral replication of HIV. The data also revealed that the maximum of 52 HIV cases have been transmitted sexually. Two HIV positive male are aged between 0-14 years, the data points out.Speaking to Sikkim Reporter, Dr. Namgyal T Sherpa, Project Director of SSACS stated that it has an Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at STNM Hospital where blood samples are tested to check the HIV status of a person. The data has been compiled after conducting targeted intervention programmes by various NGOs for the specific and high risk groups including inter-venal drug users (IVDUs), commercial sex workers, truckers and migrant laborers. The report of the blood test kept confidential to keep secret the identity of the HIV positives. Any person can visit ICTC voluntarily to check their HIV status which is kept secret and confidential, it was informed. Dr. Passang further informed that after collection of blood samples from the targeted groups, it is tested and forwarded for further analysis. Thereafter, the analyzed infected blood samples are again forwarded to other quality test centre outside Sikkim for final confirmation after which the data of HIV positives is prepared, he said. The test is conducted by expert and professional doctors very carefully to avoid any deviation, Dr. Passang added. Dr. Namgyal informed that SSACS conducts regular general intervention programmes for the general public to create awareness among mass and to impart other important facts regarding HIV Aids. Targeted intervention programmes in support of various NGOs at regular intervals are conducted for targeted and most specific and high risk groups like commercial sex workers, IVDUs, truckers and migrant laborers. They have been identified as the most active and risky groups through which HIV Aids is transmitted. He also informed that 8 HIV positives having opportunistic infections are being treated with anti-Retroviral drugs free of cost. An anti-retroviral drug suppresses the viral replication of HIV and stabilizes the immune system of human body. Dr. Namgyal further informed that SSACS is successful till date in creating awareness among the people of Sikkim. Our State is not in a worrying situation in regard to epidemic of HIV Aids in comparison to other States of India, he informed. To create awareness and support the general mass regarding safe sex, SSACS has put up 5 condoms vending machines at Vajra Cinema Hall, Kanchenjunga Shopping Plaza, SNT complex, Private Bus Stand and Old Children Park at Tibet Road