Department of Medical and Health Services

Lakshadweep AIDS Control Society

National AIDS Control Programme is implemented in U.T.of Lakshadweep by Lakshadweep AIDS Control Society in association with the Medical and Health Department. The following activities are carried out by the Society to control and prevent Incidence of HIV/AIDS in this Union Territory as per the guidelines prescribed by National AIDS Control Organisation/ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India.

1. Sentinel Surveillance: In order to monitor the trend of HIV infection in risk groups as well as low risk groups every year blood samples are collected and tested at the selected sentinel sites. The results are shown in the table given. In Lakshadweep there are 3 sites. They are (1) Antenatal site at IG Hospital Kavaratti (2) STD site at I.G.Hospital, Kavaratti and (3) Antenatal site at Govt. Hospital, Minicoy.

YEAR	BLOOD EXAMINED FOR HIV	POSITIVE
1993	410	2
1994	119	3
1995	101	--
1996	148	2
1997	45	--
1998	823	7
1999	400	--
2000	396	--
2001	465	1
Total	2907	15

2. Family Health Awareness Campaign: Every year FHA Campaigns are organised on a regular basis to generate awareness and provide service delivery for the control of STI and RTI infections.

3. School AIDS Education: Teachers are provided necessary training to conduct AIDS awareness education in the Schools. Students of IX and XI standard are covered under the programme.

4. I.E.C. Campaign : Under IEC and Awareness campaign following activities are undertaken, Mass media campaign, use of Traditional media, Advocacy campaign, Awareness programme for opinion leaders and observation of Voluntary Blood donation day and World AIDS Day on regular basis.

5. Capacity building: Necessary Training in HIV/AIDS management is provided to Medical officers and para medicals.

6. Targetted intervention with participation of NGOs.

7. Voluntary Blood Testing for HIV/AIDS: This facility is available at Govt. Hospital, Minicoy and Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kavaratti.