News/City Updates

Visakhapatnam youngsters falling prey to HIV

As the first day of December marks Aids Day worldwide, some concerning facts have been thrown to light in Visakhapatnam. According to the recently revealed stats by the Health Department officials, 63,325 individuals were tested between April and October for HIV. Out of these, as many as 1,046 tested positive with 90% of them being in the age group of 15-45 years.

Addressing the media persons in Visakhapatnam on Friday, Additional District Health & Medical Officer (ADMHO) Ramesh said that of every 100 people who had come for the test, 40% belonged to the category of educated youth, students and teenagers.

Despite efforts from the concerned departments and organisation of awareness programs, the incidence of HIV cases among youngsters has denied seeing a notable declining trend.

While the earlier victims consisted of migrant labourers and sex workers, the recent past has reportedly seen teens and youngsters catching the ire of HIV. “Easy availability of porn, lack of parental guidance and proper counselling have been a few reasons. Few youngsters also confessed that their parents were not marrying them off till they stood on their own feet, and the biological urge was impelling them to indulge in unprotected sex,” an official who supervises AIDS cases was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

District Medical & Health Officer Tirupathi Rao informed that while the AIDS positivity in general clients was 1.95% during 2017-18, it has dropped to 1.65% this year (2018-19) till October.

World AIDS Day

Since 1988, World AIDS Day is being dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS [acquired immune deficiency syndrome] pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the deadly HIV disease. Many government organizations and health officials, non-governmental organisations and individuals around the world observe the day often with the education on AIDS prevention and control.  It is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organisation [WHO].

News Credits- The Hindu

Leave a Comment
Published by
Team Yo! Vizag

Recent Posts

Escape the heat by visiting these Hill stations near Vizag

Vizag is beautiful, but when the summer starts summering, the heat can be unbearable. Luckily,…

1 day ago

Brilliant or bizarre? 6 AI generated movies you need to see

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence has sparked numerous debates since it became accessible to the…

1 day ago

An indulgent feast: 5 Must-try delectable cakes in Vizag!

Cakes have been one of the ultimate solutions to gloomy days and a staple to…

1 day ago

5 must-watch OTT releases you shouldn’t miss over the weekend!

We're bringing another week of March to a resounding close. Ending it on a bang…

1 day ago

If you’re in Visakhapatnam, there’s no better time than now to do these 6 things

If you love trying new things and adding exciting experiences to your bucket list, you…

1 day ago

Heatwave alert issued for Visakhapatnam as dry weather prevails

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has reported that Andhra Pradesh's coastal regions, Rayalaseema,…

1 day ago