India-controlled Kashmir has 2,000 HIV positive cases

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The number of HIV positive cases across India-controlled Kashmir is at 2,000, health officials said Tuesday.

The figures were revealed by medical experts during World AIDS Day function in Srinagar, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir.

Though the number is lower compared to prevalent scenario world over, the experts fear the trend of HIV positive cases in the state is on the increase.

"AIDS figures in Kashmir are very low as compared to over all figures, but that doesn't mean we remain complacent and watch silently as things move on," said Shahida Mir, Principal government medical college, Srinagar.

The health experts stressed upon creating mass awareness about the pandemic.

The Health department in 2002 set up state aids prevention control society (SAPCS) to tackle the diseases. The society has set up detection centers across the region in government-run hospitals where patients are screened for this particular disease.

The society is working in sync with the religious preachers to spread awareness about AIDS.

"We urge religious preachers to spread the awareness about the disease. They are being impressed upon to convey ill effects of promiscuity and drug abuse," said a Medical practitioner associated with SAPCS.

So far 85 persons have died in the region due to AIDS since 1999.

The medical experts also revealed that many HIV positive cases were detected among the Indian troopers stationed in the region.

Source: Xinhua.
Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/02/content_12571970.htm.