Dec. 1: The Northeast, one of the high-risk zones in the country for HIV/AIDS, observed World AIDS Day today with measures and promises to control the deadly disease.

The Manipur AIDS Control Society launched a free second-line anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive people and AIDS patients in the state while Assam set 2012 as the deadline to identify every person living with HIV/AIDS. Residents in Meghalaya took out a candle-lit procession, held a music concert and an advocacy meet to create awareness on prevention and spread of the disease.

Manipur governor Gurbachan Jagat announced the launch of free second-line ART drugs for HIV-affected persons at a function organised by the society at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground. This fulfilled a long-standing demand of HIV-positive persons, led by Manipur Network of Positive People.

The National AIDS Control Organisation has been giving free first-line ART drugs through the State Control Society from seven ART centres in the state since 2004.

According to official records, 12,535 HIV-affected people, including 4,417 women and 1,800 children, are taking first-line drug from the centres. This drug is given when the CD4 count of an HIV-affected person is below 250. When it fails to improve the immune system because of prolonged use, the stronger second-line drug is given. The patients are now taking the latter at Rs 1,000 per month.

Latest statistics provided by the AIDS Control Society state that nearly 30,000 people in the state had tested HIV-positive till September this year.

In Assam, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government had set a target to identify all persons affected by HIV/AIDS by 2012.

Quoting the latest statistics available with the government, he said there were around 9,000 persons affected by HIV/AIDS in the state.

“But what remains a cause for concern is that more than 6,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS are yet to be identified. It is very important to detect all the cases if we have to check the spread of the disease,” he added. Detection of all the cases will also allow the government to give proper medication to the patients.

“Creating greater awareness and motivating the people for voluntary blood testing is being pursued vigorously by the government. Counselling and blood-testing centres are being opened throughout the state,” Sarma said.

The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a public meeting organised by the Assam State AIDS Control Society. According to the latest figures available with the society, 2,195 of the 9,000 people affected by the disease have been identified.

In October this year, there were 805 cases of AIDS in the state, of which 196 were women and 84 children, most of whom had acquired the infection in the womb.

As per official figures, 127 people have died of AIDS in the state till now. The official figure could be lower than the actual figure as many AIDS deaths go unreported.

In Shillong, young and old took part in a candlelight procession that was flagged off by former minister R.G. Lyngdoh at Don Bosco Youth Centre this evening.

This was followed by a rock concert held at the old Assembly site in Police Bazaar. Local singers, including Timmy Hujon, Catherine Pyngrope, Valerie Khyriem, Desmond, Sara Syiemlieh and B. Lanong participated in the concert. Speaker Bindo Lanong was the chief guest.

Earlier in the day, an advocacy meet was organised by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS).

Health minister Advisor Pariong called for active involvement of all sections of society to prevent the spread of the disease.

MACS project director A.F. Ryngksai called upon youths to educate everyone about the disease. He said those affected by it should not feel discouraged and urged the people not to discriminate.