Out of these there have been a total of 1661 AIDS cases reported to Goa SACS up to August 2014 with 1040 deaths from the time of the first reported case in Goa in 1987.
Speaking on the eve of worlds aids day, Positive People’s Ms Isabel Santa Rita Vas talked about the Global and state HIV scenario and discussed about the changes that has taken place and issues that need attention. Speaking on the theme of world AID days “”Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections, Zero deaths from AIDS-related illness, Zero discrimination she said that that we were far from achieving the same as there are new HIV infections and HIV deaths reported in Goa.
She stressed that especially in Goa we can’t be boasting about Zero discrimination since discrimination of People living with HIV is noticed among medical fraternity as well.
HIV infection is now prevalent in all parts of Goa and majority of the cases are reported in the four coastal talukas viz. Salcete (18.4%), Mormugao (12.8%) in South Goa District and Tiswadi (11.5%) and Bardez (14.9%) in North Goa District during 2013.
Out of 505 cases reported in Goa during the year 2013, 23.2% belong to other States or foreigners. The disease is more common in males than females. Out of every three cases detected two are males. Whereas in 1997, out of four cases detected three were males.
During 2013, out of the total female infected cases nearly 37.5% belong to the age group 15-34 whereas around 30.5% of the infected males belonged to this age group. In the age group 35-49, over 49% males and about 42% females were found infected out of the total male and female cases detected during 2013.
Peter Borges briefed the media about the HIV Prevention Programms of National AIDS Control Organisation in India and state of Goa through Goa state AIDs control society. NACO has concentrated its efforts on Prevention among High risk groups i.e. Female sex worker (FSW), Men Having sex with Men (MSM), Injecting drug users (IDU) and Single Migrants and Truckers.
He said that HIV programme in Goa is centrally funded by NACO and no funds are infused by the state.
He also talked about recent merge of NACO into Health Ministry which will affect the entire HIV/AIDS Programme in India.
