AEGiS-15IAC: Drugs & HIV/AIDS scenario in North-eastern states of India particularly Manipur.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Drugs & HIV/AIDS scenario in North-eastern states of India particularly Manipur.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10047)

Ganguly J
Sahara Drugs and AIDS Programm, Churachandpur, Manipur, India

ISSUES: The consequences of injecting heroin use, in the North Eastern region of India are now considered an inseparable entity from the HIV issue. This region is facing a dual menace of Drugs & HIV/AIDS due to close proximity of the Myanmar border. There is a very high rate of Injecting Drug Use among the young population. The new injectors are at a very high risk of getting infected very quickly.

DESCRIPTION: Deaths due to overdose and loss of productivity at work was noted among young heroin users in this region since the early 1980s. In the last quarter of 1989, the HIV epidemic was documented in a fairly large number of IDUs in Manipur (an estimated total of 15,000 in a population of 1.8 million).

LESSONS LEARNED: In a cross-sectional study, 10% of 131HIV seropositive IDUs were found to suffer from jaundice, half of which was due to hepatitis B, pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. The existence of the dual problem of HIV and tuberculosis has also been identified among inpatients of the TB hospital. Rrecently heroin use has increased particularly among students and young people. It is estimated that about 15,000 - 20,000 IDUs exist in Manipur only. The prevalence of HIV seropositive among IDUs is around 80%. About 95% are in the age group of 11- 35 years and 73% share their injecting equipment with 2 - 3 persons. In the year 1997 it was found that out of 164 couples recruited (the husband being current or ex-drug user in all the cases).

RECOMMENDATIONS: Now its time for the law enforcement agencies, administration, CBOs, NGOs, Churches or religious leaders/organizations to wake up and respond to this problem. To sustain risk reduction activities among the community to support multiple interventions like awareness campaigns, harm reduction strategies, advocacy, development and trials of preventive vaccines, etc.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, India, Prevalence, Organizations, Substance-Related Disorders, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Disease Outbreaks, Heroin, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Cross-Sectional Studies, Myanmar, amphiphysin

040711
C10047