More than 70% of HIV-AIDS patients not diagnosed

KOLKATA: More than 70% of people suffering from HIV-AIDS are not diagnosed and are not aware that they are suffering from the dreaded disease. I S Gilada, president of AIDS society of India, said the fact coupled with the lack of continuous medicine supply to treat the disease were the two major challenges in fighting the menace.

"We need to educate people in such a way that they come forward to get tested going by what they have done in the past and their lifestyle," Gilada told PTI on the sidelines of a program here Sunday.

An HIV AIDS affected person can live 10 years to 25 years after he is diagnosed to have the disease and is properly treated. "But until and unless you are diagnosed how will you get treated .... What is most important is a patient generally doesn't die because he has HIV virus but due to some other disease as HIV kills the resistant power of a human being," Gilda said.

The director in charge of National AIDS Research Institute, R R Gangakhedkar said the prevalence of the disease is more among migratory workers as they stay alone without their families.