DIMAPUR, Aug 10 � A total of 3,74,847 persons have been screened for HIV in Nagaland during the period 1999-2011, out of which 10,927 tested positive.
According to HIV/AIDS statistics of Nagaland revealed during the Adolscent Education Programme (AEP) End Line Training in Kohima, reported AIDS cases are 3,764 including 2,051 males and 1,713 females.
During the period, the State has recorded a total of 521 AIDS related deaths � 265 adult males, 206 adult females and 50 children. While the prevalance rate of HIV officially stands at 0.78 per cent, it has been feared that the actual figure could be much higher than that.
Nagaland currently stands fourth among the six high prevalence States in the country alongside Maharashtra, Karnataka and Manipur.
Speaking to the teacher-participants, Alipoker, Consultant, Voluntary Blood Donation, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, stressed the need to equip oneself with the simple but correct information about HIV. Stating that the existence of MSM is a reality in the State, he expressed concern that infection of HIV in MSM is very high.
Pointing out that transmission of HIV through sexual route continues to remain a disturbing factor at 84 per cent, he said this was the highest contributing factor of HIV transmission.
Meanwhile, he said the training organised by master trainers of AEP has been going on in other districts of Nagaland as well to make the fight against HIV a collective effort from all the schools and teachers especially. He hoped that the basic facts of HIV learnt from the training would be correctly disseminated to students to further the cause of HIV prevention.
