Sitamarhi: Sitamarhi district in Bihar is facing a serious health concern as the number of HIV-infected people continues to rise every year. What was once seen mostly in older age groups is now spreading among minors as well. Health officials say the situation is alarming because more than 400 children in the district have tested positive for HIV. In total, around 8,000 people are registered as HIV patients in Sitamarhi.
According to health records, 252 boys and 135 girls under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with HIV. Among adults, the number of men and women infected is almost the same. At present, 4,954 patients in the district are actively taking HIV medication provided free of cost by the government. Doctors warn that the rising number of young patients shows the urgent need for awareness and testing across all age groups.
Read Bihar Health Department’s Rebuttal on this Issue:
Bihar Health Authorities Refute Reports of Rising HIV Cases in Sitamarhi
Sitamarhi’s ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) Centre, which opened at Sadar Hospital in December 2012, has registered 7,948 patients so far. Dumra block has the highest number of HIV patients, while Choraut block has the lowest. The ART centre sees around 300 patients every day who come to collect their medicines. Officials say nearly 500 new patients have been registering every year since 2022. Health workers stress that timely treatment and regular follow-up visits are essential to controlling the spread of the disease.
The government has launched welfare schemes to support patients financially. Under the Bihar Shatabdi AIDS Victim Welfare Scheme, 3,899 adult patients who regularly take medication receive Rs 1,500 every month. Children under 18 receive Rs 1,000 per month under the Parvarish Scheme. Health officials, including Nodal Officer Dr Sunil Kumar Sinha, are urging people to get tested so that those who are positive can begin treatment early and stay healthy.
Block-wise data shows how widespread the infection has become across Sitamarhi. Dumra has 1,107 patients, followed by Runnisaidpur with 708 and Parihar with 700. Other affected blocks include Sonbarsa (514), Riga (507), Bathnaha (574) and Nanpur (348). Smaller blocks such as Choraut (102) and Bela (194) also have significant numbers. Officials say the rising cases are a reminder that awareness, early testing and regular treatment are the only ways to prevent the situation from becoming even more serious.
