Jammu, December 7
A ticking time bomb for society at large, HIV infection has been spreading its tentacles in Jammu and Kashmir despite concerted efforts of the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society.

The current year witnessed 150 more cases of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive people, taking the total tally to 1130.

The number has risen sharply in the strife-torn state from 980 to 1130 this year and 40 people with full blown AIDS have died over the years.

However, increasing numbers does not mean that the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society has turned a blind eye to the fatal virus.

Talking to ‘The Tribune’, project director of the society Dr MA Wani said, “This year 150 more cases of HIV positive people have been detected in the state, taking the total number to 1130.”

However, despite this, the people in the state have more than a reason to smile as it has been able to lead the country in waging a war against the fatal infection.

“As far as creating awareness among the people is concerned, Jammu and Kashmir tops the charts. We have been able to achieve 88 per cent success, 17 per cent above the national percentage of 61,”said Dr Wani.

Last year, NACO in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO had conducted a survey wherein it was observed that J&K has been able to achieve 88 per cent success.

“We are doing our best to check the spread of infection. NACO says that HIV infections through blood transmissions should not go beyond 1 per cent but may I inform you that in our state not even a single such case has been reported till date,” he said”, adding “Jammu and Kashmir has the lowest prevalence rate in the country.”

Similarly, the state in 2006 had kept the prevalence rate at 0.3 per cent among the high-risk group (truckers, sex workers, drug addicts and STD patients) as against NACO’s 5 per cent.

Dr Wani said, “Among anti-natal cases (pregnant women) the state in 2006 had a prevalence rate of just 0.06 percent against NACOs parameter of 1 per cent.”

“When we embarked on our mission the daunting task we were faced with was to bring the hidden epidemic to surface but I am happy that our efforts yielded positive dividends and last year 60,000 people visited our voluntary counseling and testing centres in major hospitals,” he added.

Talking about Anti-Retroviral Centres vis-à-vis treatment to HIV positive people, he said, “We have two ART centres, one at Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, and another at Sher-E-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, where 400 HIV positive people regularly get their medicines free of cost.”

“At Jammu 338 such people get medicines while 57 in the Kashmir valley avail themselves of the facility from SKIMS, Soura,” he added.

Under the National AIDS Control Programme phase III, the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society has several plans up its sleeves.

“The four targeted intervention projects for core groups comprising sex workers, homosexuals and IDUs (intra-venous drug users) stands sanctioned and would be implemented within a month,” he said.

Udhampur, December 7
In an apparent defiance of the orders of his senior officer, a school headmaster at Pauni in Reasi district has refused to relieve two teachers transferred to a nearby school which is short of staff.

The chief education officer (CEO), Udhampur and Reasi, had issued the transfer orders of two teachers from Government Girls High School, Pauni, to Government Middle School, Nagar, about 10 km from Pauni.

The teachers refused to join at the new place of posting apparently with the patronage of their headmaster. They were transferred to Nagar school, as there is only one teacher posted for about 100 students.

Since the high school at Pauni is overstaffed, the CEO decided to transfer two teachers from here to Nagar. However, the teachers have refused to join.

The CEO had issued the transfer orders following the public protest in Nagar against the shortage of teachers in the school. The residents had also locked the school, protesting that the spare teachers from Pauni may be posted there.

The CEO refused to comment on the issue. He said he had learnt that the two teachers transferred had not joined so far. He said he had asked the headmaster to report to him and ensure that the two teachers were relieved at the earliest.

Inquiries by The Tribune relieved that the teachers were using their political influence. Not only the Nagar middle school, but other schools in the remote areas are also short of staff. The influential teachers manage their posting, even by way of getting themselves attached with some school in the town so that they do not have to report in the remote areas. The authorities are finding it difficult to ensure that the teachers report at their places of posting as most of them try to bring pressure from various quarters so that they are not relieved.