Agartala, Dec 01: Use of drugs through injection has given a meteoric rise in HIV positivity rate in Tripura over the past few years.
Expressing serious concern, Dr. Deep Kumar Debbarma, Head of Office, Tripura State AIDS Control Society, said around 50-60 percent HIV positive cases were detected among the users of injectable drugs over the past few years while the disease was mostly common among the female sex workers, long-distance lorry drivers and migrant labourers earlier.
While sharing the facts and figures on HIV cases during the state-level World AIDS Day programme held at Prajna Bhavan in Agartala on Tuesday, Dr. Debbarma "around 1,20,000 HIV tests were done in 2020-21 and the positivity rate was 0.38 percent. But, till October of 2021-22, the HIV positivity rate increased to 0.68 percent against some 81,000 tests."
He said use of drugs remained the key reason behind the rise in HIV positive cases. He said the injectable drug use is high in the West Tripura District, particularly at Sadar, Mohanpur and Jirnia sub-divisions and additional measures were being taken to stop the menace.
In a power-point presentation, Dr. Debbarma shared more details. He said 298 injectable drug users were detected HIV positive in 2020-21 against around 2200 tests while the figure in the current year 2021-22 (till October) was 69.
Addressing the programme, he said total 2459 people are living with HIV in the state at present of which North Tripura district contributed the highest number of cases.
He said the increase in tests is helping identify HIV positive cases. To ensure timely treatment to the AIDS patients, he proposed setting up more treatment centres. He also proposed the introduction of OST centre in every sub-division including a centre of excellence for AIDS treatment at Agartala Government Medical College.
Dr. Debbarma said with an aim to make Tripura free of AIDS, a multi-department action plan would be initiated for target-based works.
He announced that all the HIV related tests of the patients, which were earlier done by private agencies, would now be made available in the laboratory of the Agartala Government Medical College from January 1 next year. 
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who attended the programme as chief guest, said the government is contemplating a plan to set up an institution of national standard for providing best care to the HIV positive persons.
Deb said the treatment centre in GBP hospital registers two-three HIV positive cases on daily basis, that too mostly among the students.
He stressed on controlling use of drugs to prevent AIDS. Concerned at HIV infection among some students of a renowned college in Agartala, Deb asked the AIDS Control Society and the Health department to discuss the matter with College authority, Education department and police and carry out a drive to unearth the entire chain of drug supply. He also suggested for tests of every student in the college.
He made an appeal to all specially women for strengthening the fight against AIDS.
Social Welfare and Social Education minister Santana Chakma, Principal Secretary (Health) J.K. Sinha and Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine department- Dr. Radha Debbarma were also present.