Mumbai records steady fall in HIV deaths

There has been a decrease in the number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) deaths in the city since last few years. According to the Mumbai District Aids Control Society, a total of 1,278 deaths were reported last year (2018-19) out of which 29 were children.

The data obtained with the help of Right to Information (RTI) by the Praja Foundation reveals that from April 2016 to March 2019 around 4,894 HIV/AIDS patients died in the city of which 170 were children.

In 2016-17 around 2,120 patients died. The number decreased to 1,496 deaths in 2017-18 and further decreased to 1,278 in 2018-19. The number of death cases is inclusive of both public and private hospitals.

Speaking about the decrease in number of cases, Dr Shrikala Acharya, spokesperson and additional project director of Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS), said, "While there is no special initiative or project which focuses on decreasing the number of cases or deaths, awareness drives are initiated to educate people for early treatment and to take preventive measures. Early diagnosis is helping to treat the patients at the primary stage rather than giving them treatment at the critical stage."

The data shared by the non-profit organisation, further reveals that in past four years, the number of treatment initiated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in Mumbai has increased by 30% for women. Out of the total number of cases (31,999) in which treatments were initiated in 2017-18, 64% of the cases (20,558) were of women.