Assam: HIV cases rise alarmingly in Dhubri, World AIDS Day rally calls for awareness

Marking World AIDS Day, the Dhubri District Health Department organised several awareness programmes on Sunday to intensify public outreach on HIV prevention and eliminate stigma surrounding the disease.

A rally, led by Joint Director of Health Services Dr Jyoti Kumar Das, was taken out across Dhubri town where health workers and nursing staff actively engaged with locals, urging them to follow safe practices and seek early testing and treatment. Posters, placards and public announcements highlighted the global message of ending AIDS as a public health threat.

However, the day also brought worrying revelations. The health department confirmed a significant spike in the number of AIDS patients in Dhubri district. Current data suggests that around 150 to 200 individuals are living with HIV/AIDS in the region — a rise that officials describe as “alarming.”

Dr Das expressed deep concern over the surge, attributing the trend primarily to the increasing use of injectable narcotic substances among youth and vulnerable groups.

“Compared to previous years, HIV cases in Dhubri have gone up sharply. Most affected patients are those who inject drugs, which is a major cause of concern,” he told the media.