Mangaluru
District Health Officer Dr HR Thimmaiah said that while Dakshina Kannada has 10,431 people living with HIV (PLHIV), nearly 81 percent among them contracted it due to unprotected sex.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, an awareness jatha was held from Tagore Circle to the SDM College in the city. The District Health Officer said that HIV prevalence in the district has seen a drastic dip due to large-scale awareness being created on the disease.
Bagalkot, Chitradurga, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Koppala and Mysuru have the largest HIV prevalence in Karnataka. While Dakshina Kannada reported 1,169 cases of HIV infected persons in 2007-08, the number reduced to 338 in 2022-23 and 209 cases between April and October in 2023-24. The number of HIV infection cases has reduced drastically in the past five years. The district has three Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centres, 13 link ART Centres and 54 Red Ribbon Clubs, he said, adding that one should compulsorily start ART once they test positive for HIV.
HIV infected persons may lead a normal life like any others, and only fear leads to lack of confidence among them. This fear will reduce the lifespan by 20-30 years. Counselling and instilling confidence among HIV infected persons is essential for cure, and to bring them back to the mainstream. Primary Health Centres across the district are equipped to detect HIV cases and conduct counselling sessions. People with HIV need to modify their lifestyle and consume nutritious food, he said.
A World Aids Day programme on the theme Let Communities lead was held at Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences. Similar celebrations were also held in Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia and Beltangady. In case of any queries about HIV infections, one may dial 1097 or ICTC centres, he added.