Tripura: 47 students died of HIV infection, 828 tested positive

NEW DELHI: As many as forty-seven students died from HIV in Tripura and 828 have tested HIV-positive, according to a senior official of the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS).
"We have so far registered 828 students who are HIV positive. Out of them, 572 students are still alive and we have lost 47 people due to the dreaded infection. Many of the students have migrated out of Tripura for higher studies in coveted institutions across the country," a senior official of the TSACS stated.
The Tripura AIDS Control Society has identified students from 220 schools and 24 colleges and universities who are involved in injectable drug use.
This data collection was gathered from 164 health facilities across the state, covering almost all blocks and subdivisions.
The total number of active HIV cases in Tripura, until May 2024, stands at 8,729 registered individuals at ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centers.
Among these, 5,674 people are reported to be alive, comprising 4,570 males, 1,103 females and one transgender individual.
"In most of the cases, the children belong to affluent families who are detected positive to HIV. There are families where both parents are in government service and don't hesitate in fulfilling the demands of the children. By the time they realize that their children fell prey to drugs, it was too late," Bhattacharjee highlighted.
The joint media workshop, where these details were shared, saw participation from key figures, including Project Director TSACS Dr. Samarpita Datta, Secretary Tripura Web Media Forum Abhisek Dey, President Tripura Journalist Union Pranab Sarkar, among other senior leaders of the Tripura Health Department.