Odisha ranks third in HIV prevalence as OSACS holds World AIDS Day rally to boost testing, raise awareness, and fight stigma through public campaigns
OdishaPlus Bureau
Marking World AIDS Day, the Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) organised an awareness rally in the Capital on Sunday, amid fresh government data showing 2,462 HIV-positive cases detected in the state till October this year.
The rally, held on the premises of Capital Hospital, was flagged off by Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, who underscored the need to intensify awareness efforts and eliminate stigma surrounding HIV. “We conduct awareness programmes every year on December 1 for AIDS prevention. The aim is to make people understand that AIDS does not spread through touch. We want to sensitise the younger generation and use social media as an effective tool,” he said.
Officials said Odisha had set a target of conducting 20 lakh HIV tests in 2025—12 lakh among the general population and 8 lakh among pregnant women. Of these, 14 lakh tests have been completed so far. According to OSACS, such public campaigns help promote early testing and timely intervention.
Despite increased testing, health officials expressed concern over persistent mother-to-child transmission and immoral sexual contact, which remain major drivers of new infections.
Cuttack, Ganjam, and Nabarangpur are among the worst-affected districts this year. Cuttack has been placed in Category-1, indicating higher transmission levels, while rising numbers in Nabarangpur are being linked to migration and its border location.
District-wise HIV cases reported so far:
- Ganjam: 338
- Cuttack: 261
- Nabarangpur: 70
- Khordha: 338
Odisha continues to rank third nationally in HIV prevalence, though officials noted that the positivity rate has declined this year. The number of HIV-positive cases detected in previous years stood at 3,232 (2022–23), 3,436 (2023–24), and 3,769 (2024–25). In comparison, 2,462 cases have been detected till October 2025.
Authorities said sustained testing, focused awareness drives and preventive interventions will be key to reducing transmission and addressing disparities across districts.
