On the occasion of World HIV Day on December 1, the Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society (MDACS) had conducted a testing drive at nine major railway stations in the city, where travellers could voluntarily come and get tested against HIV.
The testing counters were placed at Andheri, Bandra, Borivali, CSMT, Dadar, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Mankhurd, and Wadala stations, making it convenient for a large number of people to get tested.
Apart from this, MDACS had organized several other events to raise awareness about HIV and encourage people to get tested for the disease.
A total of 29,314 people underwent testing at these stations. Of these, 88 people were found positive for HIV, which is a positivity rate of 0.3%. This may seem like a small percentage, but it is important to remember that these 88 people were previously unaware that they had the infection and may have unknowingly transmitted the disease to others. All of them have now been put on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to manage their condition and prevent the further spread of HIV.
This testing drive was similar to one conducted by MDACS previously in 2018, where blood samples of 12,000 people were tested at five railway stations. In that drive, 88 people were also found positive for HIV, with a positivity rate of 0.73%. While the positivity rate in the recent drive was lower than in the previous one, it is still significant and highlights the importance of continuing such awareness and testing efforts.The testing drive organized by MDACS on the occasion of World HIV Day was a successful step towards creating awareness about the importance of getting tested for HIV and starting treatment early if necessary. It is important for such efforts to continue in order to control and prevent the spread of HIV in Mumbai.
The organization conducts regular awareness and testing drives, in addition to providing treatment and support to those affected by HIV.
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