Dated Aizawl: Mizoram State Council on AIDS meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma at the CM Conference Hall on 19th August, 2024 here in Aizawl.
Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Pi Sangchhin Chinzah, expressed her gratitude for holding the meeting under the leadership of the Chief Minister. Dr. Lalthlengliani, Project Director, MSACS, presented a detailed report on their current situation and ongoing activities.
Currrently, PLHIV alive on ART are 16217 in numbers upto March 2024. Out of the detected PLHIV in the state 500 are foreign nationals. There are 633 PLHIV who have been registered at ART centres bus discontinued to come to ART centres to get their pills. These PLHIV are Lost to Follow up (LFU) cases. A lot of efforts have been made to bring back these LFU cases to treatment. Since 2005 AIDS related deaths are documented, till March 2024, 5021 AIDS related deaths have been documented. MSACS has ICTC and ART centers in all districts.
According to the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) estimate for 2023, Mizoram has an adult HIV prevalence rate of 2.73%, which is higher than the national level of 0.2%. This is because Mizoram has a high rate of HIV detection, having reached its peak level later than other states. In 2017, Mizoram reached its peak level, whereas other states had already reached their peak levels by 2005. After reaching its peak, the number of new HIV cases in Mizoram has been declining.
To prevent the spread of HIV, efforts are being made to protect newborns from HIV-positive mothers. Last year, out of 120 HIV-positive pregnant women, only two babies were found to be HIV-positive. To further succeed in this effort, it is essential to identify the status of pregnant women quickly.
MSACS officials believe that if they continue their efforts, they can control the spread of HIV/AIDS. After discussing the report, they decided on their future course of action.
The meeting was attended by Pu Vanlalhlana, Minister of Transport Department, Pu PC Vanlalruata, Agriculture Department, and other members of the State Council on AIDS.
