Dr. Margaret M. Varte, Senior Medical Officer of ART Centre said that there were 1,386 HIV patients who reported to the ART Centre since 2006.  From among them 50 are Burmese.

The doctor told Khonumthung News that it is difficult to figure out the exact number of Burmese people who registered at the center, but there would be at least 50 HIV positive people among the Burmese.

Most patients are traders, handloom weavers and domestic help. Some were infected following sexual relationships.

Although they are foreigners, ART Center looks after them in the same manner as local people and provides all their medical needs regularly.

The reason for the rise of HIV is the low awareness level, lack of education and interest among Burmese people, said the doctor at the ART Center.

When I was working at the Samaritan Society, I had given HIV awareness lectures among Burmese people in Aizawl city. Most of them did not understand and did not show interest. So we opened a Free Clinic to help and guide the patients. In fact, they need more awareness about AIDS, the doctor added.

A day's meeting cum workshop for the Establishment of District AIDS Prevention & Control Unit (DAPCU) in Champhai district, Indo-Myanmar border area in the last week of January 2009 reported that there are 750 HIV patients infected by drugs and 150 from sexual relationships.

Mizoram state has one of highest number of AIDS patients in India. – Khonumthung News