Health dept to conduct HIV tests for college students across state

BENGALURU: The state Health department has decided to conduct HIV testing for college students in in order to detect infection early as cases rise among youth. This is said to be the first such initiative in the state.

According to reports from the National AIDS Control programme and other organisations, the state has been found to be placed third in the country in HIV prevalence. There are around 2.60 lakh HIV infected people in the state of which 2.05 lakh people are currently receiving Anti-Retroviral Therapy for HIV.

The Health Department has stated that around 54,000 people are unaware that they have HIV infection. HIV infection is spreading rapidly among the youth group aged 18 to 35 years. Around 7,000 people aged between 18 to 25 years have been infected with HIV.

In view of the prevalence, a decision has been taken to conduct HIV tests in colleges. The Health Department has appealed to all college principals and students to cooperate with this. To help students know their HIV status confidentially and easily, the department is moving forward with a QR code-based ‘Know Your HIV Status’ self-risk assessment.