17 Burail jail inmates found HIV positive since 2017

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 13

As many as 17 inmates of the Burail jail here have tested positive for HIV since 2017.

As per the Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, a total of 800 inmates have been tested for HIV since 2017 and 17 of them were found carrying the virus. “The number is a cause for concern. The main reason, which has come to light, is drug abuse that they were indulged in before they were lodged in the jail. They are being treated now,” stated Dr Vanita Gupta, Project Director, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society.

According to the society records, a total of 22 women have already been found HIV positive in the city this fiscal. In 2017-18, 23 women were reported as HIV positive and a year before, 26 women were found infected with HIV.

“We asked these women and came to know that most of their spouses were HIV positive and transmitted the virus to them. If detected early, the infection can be prevented from transmitting to the newborn,” shared Dr Vanita.

She said if the mother was found HIV positive, she was provided anti-retroviral treatment (ART). “Though the infection will not stop, it will not transmit to her child. The child is also given medicine for six weeks after the birth, following which it is checked every six months till the baby is 18-month-old. Though the virus does not transmit through breastfeeding, we cannot take a chance. Meanwhile, the woman’s spouse is also tested and put to treatment,” Dr Vanita said.

The society officials said to ensure no child was affected with syphilis or HIV by 2020 by the way of transmission from mother to child, they had enhanced testing.

“We are focusing on community-based testing under which we are conducting finger-tip tests of all pregnant mothers. Secondly, unlike earlier, whatever the viral load of HIV is, we are taking them for treatment,” added Dr Vanita.