GUWAHATI, Dec 1 � The Assam State AIDS Control Society has started implementing the phase III of the National AIDS Control Society (NACP), with the main objective of halting and reversing the trend of the AIDS epidemic by the year 2012.
The number of HIV positive cases detected in the State in the year 2010 till September was 798. Last year, a total of 958 cases were detected, while in 2008, the number of detected cases was 774
An official release highlighting the achievements of the Assam State AIDS Control Society said that going by the trend of positivity rate in Assam, the State was progressing in the right way to accomplishing the goal of the programme.
The positivity rate per thousand, which was 10.7 in 2001, has come down to 7.5 in 2010(as on September).
Notwithstanding this, Assam continues to be a highly vulnerable State due to a number of factors such as being the gateway of the North East, surrounded by two high prevalence Sate of Nagaland and Manipur, unsafe sexual practices by flouting/mobile populations, truck drivers and helpers, Army/CRPF personnel, traveling businessmen/salesman, students, tourists and migrant workers etc.
The region�s easy access to drugs use is largely attributable to its close proximity to the heroin producing �Golden Triangle� of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
The adult prevalence in Assam is .03 per cent and the number of HIV positives and AIDS cases is 4,800 and 1,205(907 male and 298 female) respectively.
