ART centre sees spate of addicts after crackdown

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 22

Two peddlers booked under the NDPS Act at the Lambra police station here tested positive for HIV.

The duo, caught with six syringes and drugs, was among a group of four addicts – all of whom had Hepatitis C. Another peddler, booked in Pholariwal, also tested HIV positive.

While at least three peddlers booked by the police have tested positive for HIV since the police crackdown, this, experts say, is just the tip of the iceberg.

The number of patients at the antiretrovial therapy (ART) centre in the city has witnessed a steep rise. Many of them coming for the first time, are police referrals, a new phenomenon the centre is still coming to terms with. With just a medical officer, who has also the additional charge of the OST centre in city, the ART centre, which caters to entire Doaba, is grappling with a large number of patients.

With 50 patients reported this month alone in the first fortnight (only 29 were reported in May), the July numbers have almost doubled from those in previous months (except May when 54 were reported). The centre, which has had 10,781 patients reported to it since 2006, has witnessed 505 patients this year and 20 deaths, six of them intravenous drug users (IDUs) already. The majority of the 505 patients are IDUs. While in 2016, 170 IDUs were reported at the centre and in 2017, the IDUs were 334, this year, 200 IDUs have already been reported.

While over 20 peddlers booked under the NDPS Act were referred to the de-addiction centre for treatment, some of these are also tested positive for HIV. Most of them were not aware they were suffering from AIDS.

Dr Swaijit Singh, medical officer and in-charge, ART centre said: “There has been a dramatic rise in the number of patients being reported at the centre. Clearly, the unavailability of drugs has had its repercussions on it. While this is for the first time we are witnessing such a proactive role of the police, we expect the numbers to rise in the days to come. At least three persons formally booked by the police also tested positive for HIV.”