Indian city of Surat has the highest prevalence of HIV in Gujarat among female sex workers and gay men

Prathima Nandakumar:

If there is one boom that is taking the sheen off the diamond city, it is the alarming spread of HIV.

Surat has the highest prevalence of HIV in Gujarat among female sex workers (FSW) and gay men (MSM) according to a recent sentinel surveillance of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) carried out by six NGO partners and Gujarat State Aids Control Society (GSACS).

It has pointed out that Surat is highly vulnerable as 13.20 per cent of female sex workers have been infected with HIV, while among gay men, it is 15.60 per cent.

In fact, GSACS calls it a "concentrated epidemic" as even five per cent HIV prevalence is considered epidemic. The prevalence rate in the general population (low risk groups) has remained static at three per cent.

But the high-risk groups show an alarming trend. Huge migrant population in Surat is suspected to be responsible for high vulnerability, states Gujarat State Aids Control Society, which is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa government.

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