Tripura High Court Requests Updated Data on HIV/AIDS Cases in the State
Tripura High Court Calls for Updated HIV/AIDS Statistics: Key Developments
The Tripura High Court has directed the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) to submit updated statistics on HIV/AIDS cases, including data on youth, to assess the effectiveness of ongoing measures in curbing the increasing trend of the disease in the state.
Tripura High Court Requests Updated Data on HIV/AIDS Cases in the State
Court’s Focus on HIV/AIDS Control Measures
During a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Biswajit Palit was informed about several initiatives undertaken by the state. Notably, the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has approved the establishment of:
- Two new Facility-Integrated ART Centres (Fi-ARTC) in Khowai and Gomati districts.
- One District Monitoring Unit covering Gomati and South districts.
TSACS has been tasked with securing additional budget approvals under the Annual Action Plan for the financial year 2025–2026 to operationalize these facilities.
Existing HIV/AIDS Infrastructure in Tripura
The Court was apprised of the extensive HIV/AIDS infrastructure already in place:
- Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs):
- 24 Stand-Alone ICTCs (SA-ICTC).
- 133 Facility-Integrated ICTCs (F-ICTC).
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Models:
- Three PPP ICTC Centres and one Mobile ICTC Van are functional.
- Support for High-Risk Groups (HRGs):
- 13 Targeted Intervention NGOs.
- Two Link Worker Schemes.
- Four One-Stop Centres.
Over the past five to six years, TSACS has significantly expanded opioid substitution therapy (OST) centres from 5 to 23, with nine additional centres approved and expected to launch soon. Approval has also been granted for:
- Two Facility-Integrated ART Centres (Fi-ARTCs).
- Five Link ART Centres.
- Two DISHA (District Integrated Strategy for HIV/AIDS) centres.
District-level programs, guided by NACO, are supported by District AIDS Prevention & Control Units (DAPCU).
Court’s Directives and Future Actions
The Court directed TSACS to file a detailed progress report, including updates on resolutions from the National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD) and actions taken. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 20.
This comprehensive review emphasizes the commitment of the state and judiciary to tackle HIV/AIDS, ensuring a robust framework for prevention and treatment.