More than three decades after Odisha detected its first HIV case, the state continues to grapple with a persistent and worrying trend: a rising number of young people testing positive for the virus. Despite multiple government initiatives, unprotected sexual activity remains the dominant driver of new infections, keeping the situation a serious public health concern.
Unprotected Sex: The Primary Cause
Unprotected sex is responsible for approximately 70% of all HIV cases in Odisha, firmly establishing it as the leading cause of transmission. The second most significant route is mother-to-child transmission, contributing to around 20% of cases. According to Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Project Director of the Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS), a majority of the newly infected individuals are young adults aged between 18 and the mid-30s who are not practising safe sex.
Dr. Mishra clarified that the increase in detected cases is partly due to expanded testing efforts. "Cases are increasing due to an increase in testing. We are conducting awareness programmes to sensitise people, apart from treatment," he stated.
Government's Multi-Pronged Awareness Drive
To combat the spread and address high-risk groups, the state has deployed a network of 52 Targeted Intervention-NGOs (TI-NGOs) and seven link worker schemes across 800 villages. For clinical care, around 40 designated clinics are operational statewide for detecting and treating sexually transmitted infections.
The information, education, and communication (IEC) strategy is broad. Campaigns are run at 11 railway stations and several bus stands to reach migrant populations. To specifically target the youth, 1,500 Red Ribbon Clubs (RRC) are active in schools and colleges, with a special emphasis on media-driven awareness.
An OSACS official detailed additional measures: "With help from the National Health Mission (NHM), an incentive of Rs 500 each for HIV-infected pregnant mothers and ASHA workers is being given for promoting institutional deliveries." The state also conducted an intensified IEC campaign from August 12 to October 11, covering 5,018 villages and sensitising 185,000 people.
Legal Push for Better Blood Screening
In a related development, the Orissa High Court in September sought the state government's response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The PIL, filed by retired ICMR scientist Amarendra Mohapatra, urges the implementation of advanced Individual Donor Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) in all government-run and affiliated blood banks across Odisha.
Currently, NAT-PCR technology is used for blood screening before transfusion. However, the petitioner argues that this technology is outdated and less effective in detecting infections like HIV, HBV, and HCV compared to the more advanced ID-NAT systems, which he wants the state to procure.
Voices from the Ground and Government Assurance
An HIV patient and activist, who chose to remain anonymous, emphasised prevention. "The government should target young people to stop any new HIV infections. Awareness and proper counselling can help fight the virus," they said.
Odisha's Health Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, assured that the government is taking all necessary steps to control the disease's spread. "Apart from the treatment facilities, we are conducting several programmes in different districts to create awareness among the people about the disease," he affirmed.
The narrative from Odisha highlights a crucial duality: while medical advancements allow patients to lead healthy lives decades after diagnosis, stemming the tide of new infections among the youth remains an urgent and challenging frontier in the state's public health agenda.
