HIV Crisis in Tripura: 47 Student Deaths, 828 Test Positive

HIV Crisis in Tripura: 47 Student Deaths, 828 Test Positive

As per a senior official from the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS), forty-seven students have died from HIV in Tripura, with 828 students testing positive for the virus.

“We have registered 828 HIV-positive students so far. Among them, 572 are still alive, while 47 have succumbed to the infection. Many students have migrated out of Tripura for higher studies at esteemed institutions across the country,” the official reported.

The TSACS has identified students from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities who are using injectable drugs. Recent data indicates that five to seven new HIV cases are detected almost daily, according to a senior TSACS official.

During a media workshop organized by the Tripura Journalist Union, Web Media Forum, and TSACS, the Joint Director of TSACS presented a statistical overview of HIV in Tripura.

“So far, we have identified 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities where students are addicted to intravenous drug abuse. Data has been collected from 164 health facilities statewide, with reports from nearly all blocks and subdivisions,” he explained.

Regarding the total number of active cases, a senior TSACS official stated, “

As of May 2024, we have registered 8,729 people at the ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centers. Among them, 5,674 are alive, including 4,570 males, 1,103 females, and one transgender patient.”

The spike in HIV cases is largely attributed to intravenous drug use, with Bhattacharjee noting, “In most cases, the children come from affluent families. Many parents, often employed in government service, fulfill their children’s demands without realizing the dangers until it’s too late.”