Tripura AIDS State Control Society issues rejoinder on HIV cases in state

Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 10 (ANI): Tripura AIDS State Control Society on Wednesday set the record straight, saying that a report circulated stating that Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive.

As per a rejoinder issued by Dr Samarpita Dutta, Project Director, “There is a report circulated, printed in various print and other social media channels stating that Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive and 47 of them died”.

“In reference to the data stated above it is to mention here that the total figure of 828 and 47. To be more precise, the data presented, however, is from April 2007 to May 2024. Over these years, 828 students who were registered in the ART Centres of Tripura is the cumulative figure of registration as ‘Student’ in each respective year,” as per the rejoinder.

The rejoined further added that it is implied that 828 students registered over the last many years in ART centres are all getting free anti-retroviral treatment as per NACO guidelines. “However 47 of them died from 2007 to May 2024.”

“The number of HIV new infections detected during the year 2022-23 is 1847 (positive rate 0.89%) and death cases 67. The number of HIV new infections detected in the year 2023-24 is 1790 (positive rate 0.92%) & death cases in the state of Tripura,” it added.

This comes after the government of Tripura on Wednesday issued a clarification, terming a report that claims that the state has 828 students registered as HIV as “misleading”.The government said that the figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024.

Reacting to reports, the Health & Family Welfare Government of Tripura, in a message on the social media platform, X, said, “It is reported that, Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive and 47 of them died. This report is misleading because the total figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024. Please note it as official clarification from Govt of Tripura”.