Rising HIV cases prompt awareness efforts in Ernakulam

Kochi: In the wake of rising HIV cases in the state, the district AIDS prevention and control committee recently convened a high-level meeting chaired by the additional district magistrate. The committee identified young adults (18–25 years) as the most vulnerable group and prioritized targeted awareness programmes for students and school counsellors.

To strengthen prevention efforts, future meetings will include representatives from the offices of the deputy director of education and collegiate education.

Additionally, a decision was made to direct institutions with over 100 employees to appoint a designated complaint officer. This officer will ensure that any HIV-positive employee does not face discrimination in the workplace. "The officer, who must hold a senior position, will also oversee HIV awareness programmes within the organization. According to the HIV Act of 2017, institutions with more than 100 employees are required to appoint such an officer, but many organizations have yet to comply," said a health official.

Another key decision was to address the issue of HIV patients who are under treatment but lack a home to return to. The committee decided to approach care home authorities to explore the possibility of accommodating these patients. Discussions will also be held with the social justice office, as some care homes have expressed reluctance to take in HIV patients who have no family or housing support.

The meeting also noted that some patients discontinue their treatment without informing health officials. To address this, it was decided to include HIV awareness programmes as part of job training for Anganwadi staff and other relevant departments. According to the latest available data, 217 new HIV cases were reported in Ernakulam during 2022-23, with five of them involving pregnant women.