Stressing on the fact that HIV/AIDS is penetrating deeper into the rural set-up, the Health department has now sounded an alert at the taluka level for prioritisation of talukas for Targeted Intervention programmes.

Out of the total 226 talukas in the state, the Health department has classified 27 talukas as high risk prevalence ‘category A’ and 29 others as moderate risk prevalence ‘category B’.

The department made this classification on the basis of a three-month (April, May and June) review of the HIV status in various talukas.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Gujarat is 0.38 per cent.

State Health Commissioner Dr Amarjeet Singh has issued a circular to all District Collectors, District Development Officers and Chief District Health Officers, emphasising on the need for the effective implementation of different components of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in the high-risk talukas. Around 95 Targeted Intervention programmes for HIV are being implemented across the state by the Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) at present.

“As per the analysis of the Targeted Intervention programmes, talukas in Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Mehsana, Morbi, Rajkot, Surat City, Vadodara and Valsad are performing well in terms of coverage, but require improvement of quality and linkages with local health system.

“Out of the 27 HIV high prevalence places, the performance of ICTC centres located in Jamnagar and Valsad districts has been average, whereas utilisation of centres in Talaja, Gandhidham, Wadhvan and Pardi is below satisfactory level,” the circular reads.

Meanwhile, the performance of Amreli, Dahod, Gandhinagar, Narmada and Sabarkantha in terms of coverage in STD control is unsatisfactory. Bavla, Sanand, Palanpur, Bhavnagar, Una, Nadiad, Gandhidham and Pardi require greater focus, it adds.