According to a senior official from the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS), 47 students have tragically lost their lives due to HIV, while 828 students have tested positive for the virus. Among these cases, 572 students are still alive, with many having relocated outside Tripura for higher education opportunities.
The TSACS has identified students from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities who are involved in injectable drug use. Alarmingly, there has been a daily detection of five to seven new HIV cases recently.
Speaking at a media workshop organized by the Tripura Journalist Union, Web Media Forum, and TSACS, the Joint Director provided a comprehensive overview of the HIV situation in Tripura. Data was gathered from 164 health facilities across the state, covering nearly all blocks and subdivisions.
As of May 2024, 8,729 people have been registered in ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centers in Tripura. Of these, 5,674 individuals are currently living with HIV, including 4,570 males, 1,103 females, and one transgender individual.
The rise in HIV cases has been primarily attributed to the use of injectable drugs. According to officials, many affected students come from affluent families, where parents working in government services often fulfill their children’s demands without realizing they have fallen into drug abuse until it is too late.