Assam Districts Hit HIV Prevention Milestones

Guwahati: Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal reported a rise in HIV cases tied to injection drug use. He addressed the Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala in Guwahati on October 14. The event focused on the Mobilization for AIDS Suraksha initiative. Singhal demands urgent action. He wants more testing and active youth participation to stop the spread.

The Assam State AIDS Control Society organized the workshop under National AIDS Control Organization guidance. ASACS Project Director Indranoshee Das announced that Charaideo and Bajali districts reached Surakshit status. Thirteen other districts earned the Saksham label: Baksa, Biswanath, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Kamrup Metro, Karbi Anglong, Majuli, Sonitpur, Sribhumi, and Udalguri.

Singhal honored the representatives from these high-performing districts. He suggested the AYUSH department join the effort, specifically recommending yoga for better mental health. The minister emphasized that "efforts were needed to identify people living with HIV who remained undiagnosed, particularly those engaging in high-risk behaviour, including unprotected sex and injection drug use."

NACO Deputy Director Saiprasad Bhavsar eyes a larger goal. He expects every district in Assam to hit the three 95 targets by December 1, 2026. Mahendra Pancholi from HLFPPT provides support to help reach these national benchmarks. The initiative works to end new infections, deaths, and discrimination, while targeting the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.