Mangaluru: After a decade of efforts, finally a drastic fall in the count of HIV+ and AIDS cases has been achieved in the united Dakshina Kannada district. The statistics available with the Health Department show that 15.6 percent of AIDS cases reported in the district during 2008, the number has dropped to a mere 1 percent in 2018. The department attributes this massive figurative drop to the extensive awareness programmes and campaigns held in the district on HIV-AIDS. With this, the district ranks eighth in the state.
According to the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) Dakshina Kannada, out of the 8,652 subjects counseled in the year 2007, 7986 were tested and 1245 were found positive which provides an average of 15.6 percent. Meanwhile, in 2018, 31693 were counseled, 31481 tested and 282 found positive. This brings down the average to one percent. In the survey conducted from April-June 2018, the total number of people tested (comprising male, female, transsexual and transgender) was 15,209, out of which 73 males and 51 females were found positive.
The data show that persons in the age group of 25-49 years form 90 percent of the infected persons while those below 14 years are mere one per cent.
If one goes by the taluks, Mangaluru taluk ranks highest with 30 cases during April-June 2018 and Sullia ranks the lowest with three cases, making it evident that the prevalence of the cases is higher in cities than in rural areas.
As far as routes of transmission are considered, 117 cases were transmitted through heterosexual contact, five cases from parents to child and two through homosexual contact.
Yet another positive aspect is that in 2007, 82 pregnant women were found HIV+ and in 2018 the number has dropped to 13.
Red Ribbon Club
Around 92 colleges in the district have formed a Red Ribbon Club with the assistance of District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU). According to the report of the Health Department, Bagalkot district stands first with the lowest number of cases, followed by Bengaluru Rural and Yadagiri.
