The Tripura government as part of the National AIDS Control Programme has taken a series of measures to prevent the spread of the HIV, AIDS in the state, official said on Wednesday adding that the number of new infection detected in 2023-24 is 1790 with positivity rate 0.92 percent.   

Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) Project Director Dr Samarpita Dutta addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon accompanied by PRO of Health department, Parijat Datta said that in 2022-23, sixty seven people including two students died and in 2023-24, forty four people died after being infected by HIV, AIDS.

During 2022-23, new HIV,AIDS infection was detected among 1847 people with a positivity rate of infection was 0.89 per cent.   

Dr Dutta said that the National AIDS Control Programme has been implemented in Tripura since April, 1999.

In between April, 2007 and May, 2024, 828 students registered as PLHIV (People Living With HIV/AIDS) and 47 of them died during the period of 17 years. 

“Tripura State AIDS control Society has taken all initiatives to control the menace as per specific guidelines and action plan designed by National AIDS Control Organization,” Dr Dutta told the media.

She said that 828 students registered over the last many years in ART centres are all getting free Anti Retroviral Treatment as per NACO guideline.

Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who himself is an oral and maxillo-facial surgeon and served in a key position at a medical college here before becoming Chief Minister, also said that the state government has taken various measures to prevent the spread of HIV,AIDS in the state.

“It has come to our notice that some recent media reports have led to misgivings on the number of infected students and fatalities. It has been clarified by the department concerned that a total of 828 students in Tripura have tested HIV positive and 47 have lost lives over a period of 17 years (from April, 2007 to May, 2024).

All affected students have received or have been receiving free Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) as per the NACO guidelines,” Dr Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, said in a post on the X.