GUWAHATI, Nov 29 - Like previous years, the World AIDS Day 2014 will be observed by the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) on December 1 at the state and district levels.
The State-level function will be held in the International Convention Centre, Srimanta Sankardev Kalashetra at 10.30 am.
Prior to the function, a rally will be organized at the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara at 8 am on that day.
In addition to the State level programme, HIV/AIDS awareness meetings will be organized by the District Health Services.
Briefing the media persons on Friday, Dr PN Talukdar, additional project director, ASACS said that Assam is categorized as a low HIV prevalence state with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 0.07 per cent compared to the national prevalence of 0.27 per cent.
However, the adult HIV prevalence in the State has increased from 0.04 per cent in 2007 to 0.07 per cent in 2011. The rate of new infection is also increasing in Assam compared to Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
It is estimated that Assam had an estimated 12804 people living with HIV (PLHA) in 2011.
Dr Chiranjeev Bhattacharya of ASACS said that majority of the cases in Assam are transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse and that the migrant population is the most vulnerable lot.
Evidence shows that the HIV epidemic in the State is concentrated among the high risk group populations of female sex workers, men having sex with men and injecting drug users.
