22 migrant workers from state test positive for HIV

Jaipur: It came as a shocker for 34-year-old Mukesh (name changed), who had come back home to Sirohi after seven months to celebrate Diwali with his family, when he tested positive for HIV/ AIDS at a camp specially organised by the health department for migrant population.

Not only Mukesh, 21 others (a total of 22 so far) have already been tested positive for HIV in four days after the camp began. For them, the festivities are not only over, but the future has never looked bleaker.

"These are people who are returning home to celebrate after a long time. They are categorised as migratory population, who are always at a high risk of being infected by HIV," said Pradeep Chaudhary, additional project director, Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society (RSACS).

"We organise camps and provide HIV testing facilities free of cost to migratory population. It is completely voluntary and we do not force anyone to undergo testing," he said.

The health camps began on October 9 and will continue till October 18. "When people return home after a long time to celebrate Diwali, the health department helps them to get the test done. If they test positive, they may spread the virus to their spouses," officials said.

The department is expecting more such cases to be reported in the remaining six days of the special drive.

The RSACS has identified 10 districts in the state with the highest number of migratory population to hold these camps. These are Banswara, Jodhpur, Bhilwara, Pali, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Dungarpur, Sirohi, Jalore and Udaipur.

A large number of people from the state work as labourers and in other professions in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, among others. Many of them stay in these states without their families for months.

According to RSACS, the prevalence of HIV in the state is about 0.32% of the total population. By organising health camps for 10 days ahead of different festivals, the health department aims to prevent the spread of HIV in the state.

According to officials, if a person is unaware that he is HIV positive, there are chances of him spreading the virus to other healthy persons unintentionally.