Assam has an estimate of 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.

Of the 25,073 PLHIV, 45 per cent are female and three per cent are children, it said.

The HIV prevalence rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent, lower than the national prevalence rate of 0.21 per cent, the ASACS said in a release, quoting the NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021, on the occasion of World AIDS Day on Thursday (December 1).

The total number of people alive by taking Anti Retroviral therapy (ART) is 10,765 in the state, the report stated.

Kamrup (Metropolitan) district has the highest number of cases at 7,610, followed by Cachar with 5,200, Nagaon 1,602 and Dibrugarh 1,402.

Regarding the route of transmission in Assam, 81.63 per cent is through sex between heterosexuals, 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, homosexual route is 4.61 per cent, 0.85 per cent through blood transfusions and 2.61 is not specified, it said.

ASACS has undertaken various activities to create awareness by disseminating HIV messages in mass media (print and electronic), outdoor media (hoardings, bus and train panelling), folk media, social media (facebook, twitter, instagram), activities during festivals, events and HIV awareness in colleges through Red Ribbon Clubs and schools through Adolescence Education Programme, the release stated.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the state Health department organized a central function at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) where Minister for Health and Family Welfare Keshab Mahanta launched ten Opioid Substitution Therapy (OPD-OST) Dispensing Centres for district hospitals across Assam.

A rally was also flagged off at GMCH auditorium complex by renowned swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika with students from colleges and various institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders participating.

World AIDS Day is being observed in all districts across Assam with rallies, public meetings and various other activities.