In the past year, the situation in Mizoram has been quite grave due to the rise in the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The North-East state, Mizoram, has reported the highest HIV prevalence rate in India at 2.73 percent, significantly surpassing the national average of 0.2 percent.
On 24 February, Mizoram state health minister, Lalrinpuii, voiced her concern over the escalating situation and urged lawmakers to implement more robust measures to combat the epidemic. She also necessitated urgent measures to tackle the incidents of HIV. Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) Project Director, Dr. Jane R. Ralte, held a meeting at the Mizoram Legislative Forum on AIDS. Dr. Ralte gave a comprehensive update on the state’s HIV situation.
This meeting was held at the I&PR conference hall in Aizawl. As of January 2025 data, it has been stated that 32,287 individuals in Mizoram have tested positive for HIV, with 5,511 succumbing to death. 1,769 new cases have been detected till January 2025 alone since April 2024, as reported by NorthEast Now. Dr. Ralte highlighted that 67 percent of the new infections were attributed to unprotected sexual activity, as 30.44 percent were linked to the use of unsterilised syringes.
However, he also maintained that the state has started to see some encouraging trends, with a decline in new infections and a notable drop in HIV-related deaths. In the meantime, the state health minister maintained that regular blood testing and adherence to ART medication are important. Furthermore, she also emphasised the efficient use of drop-in centres to provide aid to those suffering from HIV.
The state legislators agreed to allocate Rs 50,000 each from their MLA funds for 2024-25. The funds will be allocated to the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) to provide uninterrupted access to ART treatment to individuals living with HIV. Yesterday, the Health Ministry issued a notice highlighting the introduction of HIV self-testing (HIVST), which has emerged as a revolutionary approach, offering a more private, convenient, and effective means of diagnosis.
Edited By Shubham Singh
Also Read: https://theglobalic.com/2025/02/26/hiv-epidemic-outbreak-in-mizoram/
