Nagaland and Mizoram record highestadult HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in India

Two North Eastern states – Mizoram and Nagaland – continue to have the highest HIV prevalence rate in India, officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the HIV/AIDS adult (15 to 49 years) prevalence rate in these two northeastern states is much higher than the national prevalence rate of 0.20 per cent.
According to the data of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate in Nagaland is 1.37 per cent and Mizoram is 2.73 per cent.
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate in the two northeastern states is also much higher than other 35 states and Union Territories.
As per the NACO data, the prevalence rate in four northeastern states — Manipur (0.87 per cent), Meghalaya (0.43 per cent), Tripura (0.37 per cent), Arunachal Pradesh (0.25 per cent) – is also higher than the national average of 0.20 per cent.
Only two northeastern states – Assam (0.13 per cent) and Sikkim (0.11 per cent) — have a prevalence rate less than the national average.
Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii called for urgent, coordinated efforts to effectively deal with the alarmingly rising cases of HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate in the state.
Addressing the governing body meeting of the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) in Aizawl, the Minister said that the situation leaves no room for complacency and requires intensified intervention across sectors.