Hojai: Health authorities in Assam’s Hojai district have raised alarm over a sharp increase in HIV cases and are urging residents to come forward for testing and treatment. Between April and June this year, 27 new HIV-positive cases were detected in the district, including one involving a pregnant woman. According to Dr. Basudev Malakar, Principal of Hojai Civil Hospital, the surge is largely linked to unprotected drug use and sexual contact. The trend reflects a broader state-wide concern. An official from the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) told Northeast Now that campaigns are being intensified to increase testing. “If a person is HIV positive and is unaware, unknowingly, he spreads the disease. Treatment is crucial to mitigate this risk,” the official said. Injecting drug use accounts for a majority of new infections in Assam, with around 60–64% of cases linked to drug abuse. A striking example was the detection of 88 HIV-positive under-trial prisoners in Nagaon jail, many of them drug users from Hojai and nearby areas. To tackle the crisis, ASACS has launched a 60-day awareness campaign (August 12–October 12) in 25 high-burden districts, including Hojai, Kamrup, Nagaon, Dibrugarh, and Cachar. The campaign involves house-to-house visits, interpersonal communication, and Red Ribbon Clubs in schools and colleges. Dr. Malakar stressed the importance of community cooperation. “Testing is the first step. Reported figures don’t show the actual scale of the problem, which is why early detection and safe practices are vital,” he said.
