Epidemiological Analysis of HIV/AIDS in Manipur

By Sarlima Laishram *

The no. of HIV positive people in Manipur has increased by 2528, dated Oct. 2007 when compared to the figure of Jan. 2007. In Jan last year, 25433 HIV positive cases was reported but in the month of Oct., it has increased upto 27961.

Out of this 27961 positive cases, 7106 are females. Along with it, 4154 Aids cases was also reported i.e. 2053 males and 1101 females. The no. of death cases occurred due to AIDS is listed 599 i.e. 485 males and 114 females.

According to a survey conducted by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society, Research & Development Wing, Lamphetpat, the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in the year 1990.

Though speculations have been carried out in the previous years, report of HIV/AIDS cases came into light only in the year 1990. However, 2003 remain the year with highest no. of HIV/AIDS cases reported.

In a district-wise surveillance, Imphal (57.23%) has been rated as the district with the highest number of HIV positive cases followed by Thoubal (9.70%), Churachandpur (8.23%), Ukhrul (7.16 %), Bishnupur (5.84%), Senapati (4.90%), Chandel (4.84%) and Tamenglong (0.45%). The remaining 1.63% is found scattered in the smaller districts.

The high-risk groups i.e. those persons who are liable to get this disease are detected to be heterosexually promiscuous, homosexuals, injecting drug users (IDUs), blood donors, blood recipients, ante-natal mothers, patient on dialysis, relatives of AIDS patients, perinatal transmission, etc.

From this above listed categories, the group topping the chart are the injecting drug users (IDUs) constituting about 43.48% and the heterosexually promiscuous constituting 29.04%.

HIV positive cases are found even in children i.e. in the age group of 0-10 years (6.18%). Whereas 5.72% is taken over by the age group of 11-20 yrs, 35.50% by the 31-40 years and 8.36% by the 41 and above years.

However, the target group remain those who are in the age group of 21-30 yrs., constituting about 44.24%. But, when these figures are compared with those of Jan last year, an increase in the numbers can be detected through the difference is not very large.

Even various research have been carried out in search of a vaccine which can cure this disease but till date there has been no success in this field. To sum up, prevention seems to be the only remedy to stay away from this disease.

In order to prevent the spread of this disease various welfare organisations and programmes have also been set up by the Government and Non-Government Organisations.

But setting up of the project alone will not help, until and unless we all participate in fighting against cause of prevention of HIV/AIDS.

If we want to set up a HIV/AIDS free society, every one of us should join hands and made a little effort to remove the roots of this dreadful disease from the threshold of our society.