Sikh Holy City tops AIDS chart in Punjab

Chandigarh, Punjab: Amritsar has reported maximum number of HIV positive patients and deaths at anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres in the state. According to the data gleaned from the Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS), with 6,262 HIV positive patients till October this year, the holy city tops the chart, followed by Patiala at 2,333 and Jalandhar at 2,088. Barnala has reported least number of cases in the state, 85.

At present, 681 persons from Amritsar are on ART, which is maximum in the state. It is closely followed by the neighbouring border districts of Tarn Taran that has 661 cases and Gurdaspur that has 539. In this category too, Barnala has the least number of patients — 14.

Amritsar also leads in the cumulative number of deaths. One hundred and four persons died at ART centres in Amritsar, followed by 99 in Jalandhar and 94 in Hoshiarpur. No death was reported in Mohali.