On the occasion of World AIDS Day, state health minister Banna Gupta urged couples belonging to the progressive section of society to get tested for HIV before tying the nuptial knot and set an example for others, his advice coming at a time when Jharkhand has seen a steady increase in the number of HIV positive cases.

“Educated and progressive people must volunteer to get tested for HIV before getting married. By doing this, they will not only ensure safety for themselves but also set an example for the people belonging to lower sections of society,” Gupta said while addressing an event commemorating World AIDS Day on Tuesday.

As per figures with Jharkhand AIDS Control Society, the number of HIV positive individuals in Jharkhand has increased in the past couple of years. In 2018, as many as 21,400 people were HIV positive in the state, and by 2020, the number shot up to 25,757.

“The only way we can prevent further spread of the disease is by spreading awareness. And AIDS awareness should not only be confined to school curriculums but also be practiced in daily life,” said Gupta, adding that the taboo around conversations about sex has to come to an end, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

“Three-month pregnant women should also get themselves tested for HIV,” he added.

Adolescents, he said, have to be told that sexual intercourse was a natural activity and that protected sex was important for population control and prevention of various diseases. “We are running awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, but it was also important for parents to talk freely about the risks of unprotected sex,” he said.

The health minister also expressed concern about the unsafe use of syringes by youths addicted to drugs, fearing that it might cause an increase in cases of HIV.

“While doing drugs in itself is illegal and hazardous to health, the people using syringes for taking drugs put many others at risk of getting infected by HIV virus,” Gupta said.

He admitted that it was the government’s duty to ensure the safe use of syringes at hospitals and health clinics across the state. Commoners, he said, should become more aware of the safe use of syringes for blood tests and administering of injections.

“Lack of awareness also leads to misinformation about the disease, which eventually triggers discrimination against people battling AIDS. Spreading awareness will ensure better treatment of AIDS patients in the society,” said Gupta.

The Joint Director of Jharkhand AIDS Control Society, Dr. B.C. Bhagat, said that HIV-positive people were also at a higher risk of getting infected by the Covid-19 virus as HIV weakens the immune system of patients.

World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year to spread awareness about the disease and extend support to the people suffering from it.