With 49 HIV-infected patients between 5 - 80 years old, Leh is witnessing an increasing number of HIV positive cases every year.

Out of the 49 HIV cases, 29 are locals including, 11 male and 18 females and remaining 20 are non-locals. 7 co-infected cases of HIV and Hepatitis-B is also found.

World Aids Day, 2018 themed ‘Know your Status’ was observed around the world with an effort to encourage people to get them tested as many people living with HIV are not even aware of it. The day was also organised by District Health Department Leh, Tibetan Primary Health Centre and Men-Tsee-Khang on 1 December at main market, Leh.

 

Stanzin Dolma, Counselor, Integrated Counseling & Testing Center (ICTC), SNM Hospital informed that the reason behind the growth of such disease in Leh is owing to lack of awareness, ignorance thinking their partner may not have the disease. 

“When the ICTC was instituted in Leh for the first time we believed such disease may not exist in Leh but in the year 2009, we found 6 cases. Every year we see the disease increasing like in 2010, 4 cases and in 2011 and 2012, 11 and 12 more cases respectively”, she added.

She added, “Nobody can identify the disease by appearance and look of a person. There is no symptom or sign in HIV infection whereas; in AIDS patients they have the symptoms.”

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight off infections. HIV is difficult to identify as there are no specific symptoms and the immune system is too weak to fight off other diseases and infections. There are 90% chances of getting tuberculosis because the immune system continues to weaken and gets more prone to communicable diseases. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), is a disease that can develop in people with HIV. It’s the most advanced stage of HIV. 

Stanzin Dolma said once the patient is diagnosed with the disease, we send the patient to the ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centre. Antiretroviral Therapy is the use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection. Patient on ART takes a combination of drugs to reduce the amount of virus to live longer and healthier.

How it is spread?

HIV is transmitted through an infected mother to a child. A child can also be infected when a mother is pregnant. Unprotected sexual relation with multiple partners, infected blood transfusion and reuse of unsterilized object lead to spread of the disease. 

The disease is not spread by shaking hands or hugging a person who has HIV, contact with objects such as dishes, toilet seats, or doorknobs used by a person with HIV. HIV is not spread through the air or in water.

Where to Diagnose?

 

ICTC (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre) is opened in Leh in the year 2008. ICTC is a place where a person is counselled and tested for HIV.  The screening is authentic and as per India, Nation Aids controls organization. They impart basic information on the modes of HIV transmission and promoting behavioural change to reduce vulnerability.

The HIV status of a person is kept 100% confidential, and no data is discussed outside.

Challenges

In other places under the theme getting to zero, positive changes are seen with less case. But in Ladakh because of the lack of awareness and knowledge, it becomes difficult to monitor whether the disease is being controlled.

Everybody should understand and aware about the disease to stop the infection. The need of the hour is to get oneself screened to live a healthy life along with promoting infection free society. Also, it becomes immensely important to support people who are suffering from the disease.

On World Aids Day, a skit show spreading awareness on HIV AIDS was presented. Also, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, CEC flagged off HIV-AIDS awareness vehicle to spread awareness in every village.