Haldwani: 477 new cases of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) have been reported in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand in the last 15 months. These include 370 men, 98 women and 8 children. At the same time, one patient is transgender. Out of 477, 38 cases have been reported from Haldwani jail. This figure is from January 2024 to March 2025. It is being told that most of the people who have been found HIV positive are those who take drugs.
Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani, the Nainital district headquarters, has an HIV ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) Center. 477 new HIV patients have been registered here in the last 15 months. If we look at it this way, 31 HIV patients are coming up every month in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, which is a matter of great concern. In fact, apart from the government and the health department, many social organizations also run awareness campaigns against HIV. Despite this, the increase in HIV figures in this way is a matter of concern.
A look at the data received from Sushila Tiwari Hospital administration:
- From the year 2010 to March 2025, 4824 HIV patients are registered.
- Out of these patients, 880 patients have died.
- While 450 patients have been transferred.
- According to the data, 816 people are not getting their treatment done.
- At present, 2536 HIV infected patients are undergoing treatment.
- According to the data, there are 38 HIV infected prisoners in Kumaon’s largest Haldwani jail, which also includes a female prisoner.
- All the patients are being treated at Sushila Tiwari’s ART Centre.
Dr Vaibhav Kumar, Nodal Officer of HIV ART Centre at Sushila Tiwari Hospital, said that all HIV infected patients are treated at the ART Centre. Due to awareness, HIV patients are coming forward. Earlier, there were many patients who used to keep this disease hidden, but due to awareness among people, the number of patients has increased.
According to Dr Vaibhav Kumar, the majority of HIV infected patients are those who are addicted to drugs. It has been found that many people take drugs in their veins through the same syringe (injection) while taking drugs, due to which the risk of AIDS infection remains high.
Apart from this, there can also be a risk of HIV by having unsafe sex. Most of the HIV infected are young people. He said that seriously ill HIV patients are treated here. Apart from this, whatever patients come forward, they are treated for free as well as made aware. Not only this, HIV patients are being treated by sending doctors to their homes, so that the life of the patient can be saved by giving him timely and appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of HIV: When the HIV virus enters the body, some signs are seen shortly after that.
- High fever in the beginning
- Sweating in the body
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Symptoms like itching in the body are seen in the infected person.
If it is not treated in time, it takes a serious form. Due to this, people even lose their lives. In such a situation, if you have ever had unprotected sex or have been admitted to the hospital due to any disease and these symptoms are seen in your body, then you should immediately get tested for AIDS.
-Dr. Vaibhav Kumar, Nodal Officer, ART Center, Sushila Tiwari Hospital-
