Ganjam Continues to be HIV Hub of Odisha

Berhampur: Despite all measures to check the rise of HIV infection in the district, Ganjam continues to be the most AIDS-prone region of Odisha. Migrant workers play a key role in the high incidence of HIV-positive cases in Ganjam.

According to a report, a total of 17,32,332 persons of the Ganjam district received counseling for AIDS awareness between 2000 and October 2022. Blood samples of 15,72,990 were sent for HIV tests. Out of them 17,448 were identified to be HIV positive.

The highest number of HIV-positive cases was from the Polasara block of the Ganjam district. A total number of 1282 persons in this block tested positive. Most of them were migrant workers serving in Surat.

Since 2022 996 pregnant women of the district have been identified to be infected by HIV. Since January this year 27 pregnant women of Ganjam have tested HIV positive.

Because of the high number of HIV positive persons in the area, ART centers have been opened up in MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, and Bhanjanagar sub-divisional hospital. ART link centers are there in the Aska, Polasara, and Khallikote blocks, which have more migrant workers as well as HIV-positive persons.