MADRAS (PTI): The AIDS scenario in India is acquiring alarming dimensions and by the turn of the century, there are likely to be three to five mullion AIDS cases in the country, according 16 Indian health organization secretaries general, Dr. S .Gilada.
The number of HIV positive cases was likely to touch 30-50 million, Dr.Gilada, the country’s first campaigner against AIDS. Told PTl in an interview in the south Indian city of Madras .
Going by experience and a careful study of AIDS-related statistics during the last seven years, the number of HIV positive cases appeared to double in just 12 months and even if there was a suitable intervention program, the figure would still double in an estimated 24 months, he said,
If the doubling occurred at the estimated pace, there would be about 50 million HIV infected cases in the country as Compared to the present figure of one million.
This projected figure for India alone, is tragically five times the world’s total number of HIV infection cases as of Dec.31 which by comparison, is a modest 10 million,” Dr.Gilada said quoting from an IHO publication,
He said more HIV cases were reported in 1992 than i the previous six years. In January 1992, the number of HIV cases was 5.25 per thousand populations. In November the same year, the figure had climbed alarmingly to read 7.11 per thousand,
Even according to the statistics of the national ALDS control program, 11,071 of the aver 15.55 lakh samples screened till November that year, were confirmed to be HIV positive, he said,
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Article extracted from this publication >> January 7, 1994
