Health officials in Haldwani have raised alarms as a significant rise in HIV cases has been reported at the Dr. Susheela Tiwari Government Hospital. A total of 477 new HIV cases have been detected between January 2024 and March 2025, with 43 cases reported in March alone, according to reports by the Indian Express.
Dr. Vaibhav Kumar, the nodal officer at the hospital’s Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre, revealed that the majority of those affected are men, though eight children have also tested positive, likely due to vertical transmission from mother to child. “This is an alarming trend. Every day, we are seeing at least three new patients turning up with the infection,” Dr. Kumar said. He emphasized the difficulties in getting patients to register for treatment due to the fear of social ostracism.
What is driving the rise in HIV cases?
Dr. Kumar highlighted the main causes of the rising HIV cases. The primary cause is the sharing of syringes by men addicted to drugs, a situation where counselling has shown limited success. The second major cause is unprotected sex, which the hospital is trying to address through awareness and counselling efforts.
“There are thousands of registered patients coming up for follow-ups. Drug abuse is rampant and needs to be checked. We need to find out where these drugs are coming from,” Dr. Kumar said.
While vertical transmission—where the infection is passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth—has become less common due to advances in medicine, Dr. Kumar acknowledged that it still occurs, albeit rarely.
Haridwar jail HIV cases
In response to allegations and media reports about HIV cases among jail inmates, the superintendent of Haridwar Jail refuted claims that 15 inmates were found HIV positive during a health camp for TB screening. A statement from the authorities clarified that 23 inmates exhibited symptoms of HIV. These inmates, who have been in custody for periods ranging from one month to 10 years, are receiving treatment at the ART Centre.
