Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday said that HIV and AIDS cases are alarmingly rising in the state and also expressed deep concern over the rising use of intravenous drug injections or “IV drug use” among students and youths with 150 to 200 persons being infected by this contagious disease per month.

Addressing the sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan at Agartala, Dr Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare Department, said that till January this year 5,330 people including 1,033 women and 558 students were infected by the HIV/AIDS. 

“Recently I met a student at Belonia in south Tripura who said that he was a very good student and a sportsman as well, but somehow fell victim to drug menaces. After five years, he has now stopped using the drugs and now he is recovering from his illness,” the Chief Minister said.

Since the 1970s Manipur was top among the northeastern states in or “IV drug use”, he said adding that all the states in the northeast region and the country with the guidance and help of the Center are trying to make the Nasha Mukt state or the country.

A large number of college principals, headmasters, teachers, guardians, students, health officials were present in the day-long sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS, organized by the Tripura AIDS Control Society, a wing of the health department.

Urging the teaching community to closely observe the situation, the Chief Minister said that monitoring and supervising is the main task to curb the HIV/AIDS menaces.

“All the clubs, societal organisations and groups must come forward to make the people, especially the youths, aware against the abuse of drugs and other evil acts.”

Due to financial crisis and ignorance, one disposable syringe is being used by many youths causing the spread of the diseases, said Saha, who by profession is a dental surgeon. 

The Chief Minister also urged all concerned including teachers, health officials and NGOs to identify the epicentre of the drug menaces and root of the HIV/AIDS. 

He said that after Assam, among the northeastern states maximum drugs were seized and destroyed in Tripura.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has already decided to set up eight drug de-addiction centres in eight districts to provide all kinds of assistance and guidance to the addicted youths becoming free from the menace.

Officials said that the drugs smuggled from Myanmar are coming to Tripura through Mizoram and Assam and going to Bangladesh through covert routes and the border guarding forces are always alert to curb the clandestine drugs peddling.

Besides the Central and state security forces, various other government agencies along with NGOs are working relentlessly to make Tripura a drug-free state, the Chief Minister said and urged all concerned to remain alert about their children so that they do not become influenced or fall victims of the drug menaces.