Newmai News Network Aizawl | April 29 Over 1,760 people have died in Mizoram due to complications associated with AIDS and HIV since the first case was detected in October 1990. This was highlighted in a two-day Review Meeting of North East State for Basic Service Division and Linkage with Care Support Treatment Research which concluded in Aizawl on Friday, officials of Mizoram State Aids Control Society (MSACS) said on Sunday. According to report of HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2016-2017 of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) published recently, Mizoram recorded the highest AIDS/HIV positive incidence rate in the country after Manipur. Of the 6,60,934 blood samples tested during October 1990 to January 2018, as many as 16,451 people were found to be infected with HIV, which is 1.64 per cent of the total population of over 10 lakh, while 1,766 people have died due to complication associated with AIDS during the same period, highlighted the meeting presided over by National Health Misssion (NHM) Director Dr. Lalrozama. Out of 4,39,198 blood sample tested among general clients, 14,949 people including 5,221 females were identified with HIV and of the 2,21,736 pregnant women (ANC), 1,502 were found to be infected with the disease. The meeting then said that 12,099 clients have registered for Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) and over 9000 infected people have taken treatment from ART centre. During the last fiscal (2017-18), 39,520 blood sample had been tested of which 1,700 people were found to be living with HIV. The meeting further highlighted that AIDS incidence rate was highest among youths in the age group of 25-34, which was tagged at 42.61 per cent, followed by people in the age group of 35-49 at 26.56 per cent. During 2016-17, 225 people died due to various complications associated with AIDS, while 139 people died during 2015-16.
