Khursheed Wani
LEH, Dec 1: The fear of dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) spreading has forced authorities to press the panic button in the cold desert of Ladakh where several HIV positive cases have been recently detected at the region’s premier health facility.
Buddhist monks and Muslim clerics have been asked to spread awareness among the people even as the health department is awaiting approval for setting up a well-equipped AIDS control laboratory in the region.
A heavy influx of migrant labourers especially from Nepal, a huge army and security forces deployment and the arrival of thousands of truck drivers and tourists have been cited as major reasons for the spread of HIV.
Rigzin Spalbar, Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, an elected regional body that rules the region, said that detection of HIV cases in Ladakh has triggered panic in the miniscule conservative society. He said they have asked the state government to take immediate measures to arrest the spread of the deadly virus.
The HIV detection tests were conducted recently in the region’s premier Sonam Narboo Memorial Hospital and in the initial findings 24 HIV positive cases were detected.
“The identity of the HIV affected persons is a secret but majority of them are non-locals”, said a doctor at the hospital.
“This is definitely a serious problem and a surprise for all of us”, Executive Councillor (health) Dr Sonam Angchuk said.
“During the recent years, inflow and outflow of people of different hues has exponentially increased in Ladakh. There is no system in place to check the arrivals medically,” he said.
Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir sees increase in HIV patients
Last year, the sparsely inhabited district’s just over one hundred thousand population received 1.3 lakh tourists, both locals and foreigners, making the region one of those rare destinations which have more than one tourist for every local resident.
Due to highest strategic importance in the backdrop of Siachen Glacier, the highest battle-ground in the world and restive border line with China, the region has seen heavy deployment of Army and security forces. After the 1999 Kargil conflict, headquarters of an Indian Army Corps was established in Leh, delinking it with Kashmir based 15 Corps.
“The summers are especially very crowded in Ladakh. Thousands of labourers are engaged to work in the forward area and convoys of civilian trucks arrive to store supplies for the winter months,” Angchuk said.
Ladakh remains cut-off from the rest of world during winters as both motorable roads via Srinagar and Manali remain buried under thick layers of snow. The region depends on the fair-weather aerial connectivity during the harsh winter months.
Worse, the winter blockade deprives many patients appropriate medical treatment. The Jammu and Kashmir has only two anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centers at Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, Srinagar and Government Medical College Jammu where HIV patients receive free medical treatment.
Project Director of J&K AIDS Control Society Dr Rakesh Khajuria said his department has mooted a proposal to the union health ministry to set-up an exclusive ART center at Leh so that the infected people do not suffer during winters.
He said the Society is planning massive awareness campaign in the region buy involving the local government, NGOs and religious scholars. Some NGOs have started awareness in the local schools.
Angchuk said that Buddhist monks or lamas and Muslim clerics would be engaged to spread awareness among the people. An NGO in its recent report said that presence of sex workers was not ruled out in the region. “There is no organised flesh trade in the tourist hub but occasionally such incidents come on fore”, said a senior resident pleading anonymity. (Daily Rangyul, Ladakh)
(Feedback: [email protected])
