While the world is trying to battle with the pandemic, the focus on other life-threatening diseases has reduced. The same can be seen in the case of screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As most are aware that HIV can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. Until now, there is no cure for the disease. Generally, when a person develops HIV symptoms need to visit a hospital and after preliminary examination, doctors prescribe them a test. During the pandemic, many people put going to hospitals on hold due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 infection.
As per a report shared by the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), between April and October 2020, there has been a decline of 65 per cent tests conducted for HIV. Before the pandemic, MDACS used to screen more than 32,000 people every month. This included suspected patients, individuals from vulnerable groups, such as truck drivers, sex workers, prisoners, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, for HIV infections every month.
However, since the past seven months, MDACS has tested only around 11,000 people each month for HIV. This is alarming because delay in diagnosis can be life-threatening for people living with HIV. As per MDACS report between April and October, a total of 83,190 people have been tested for HIV, of whom, 803 have been found infected with the virus.
This disclosure was made on World Aids Day, which is celebrated on December 1 every year.
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