With 1053 HIV positive and 109 AIDS cases, Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) has declared the north-eastern state as AIDS prevalent. While the increasing rate of HIV and AIDS patients in Mizoram has become a major worry, in many neighbouring states the rate had become constant for the past few years. ''HIV increase rate among commercial sex workers was an alarming 14 per cent last year,'' , MSACS project director Dr K Ropari said.

''With 1.5 per cent HIV positives among pregnant women who represent the general public, Mizoram has been declared an AIDS prevalent state,'' said Dr K Ropari. She added, if HIV positivity exceeded one per cent among the general public and five per cent among the high-risk group in a state, the region was to be declared HIV/AIDS prevalent. The MSACS conducted a review meeting of NGOs implementing targeted intervention projects yesterday at the I&PR conference hall. The meeting was attended by representatives of each of the 29 NGOs working under the MSACS within and outside Aizawl.

''It is high time that we give a clear-cut message to the general public about HIV and AIDS. The menace of AIDS is no more
concentrated in the high risk groups, but has spilled out to the general public,'' stressed Vanhela Pachuau, MSACS chairman and principal secretary, Health & Family Welfare department. Some influential organisations have been opposing to projects
like promotion of condoms on the grounds that these would only encourage social evils, MSACS sources said.
Many drop-in centres run by NGOs have had to be closed down owing to strong opposition. ''This has hampered the works of NGOs,'' the review meeting said today.

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