Uttar Pradesh: Shocking reports have been emerging from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Over 68 women diagnosed to be suffering from lethal diseases such as AIDS. These women tested positive for HIV during prenatal check-ups and counseling at a district women’s hospital.Shockingly 20 of these women suspect that they had got infected through tattoos. All these women had got the tattoos done from roadside tattoo artists. Rather soon, their health began deteriorating and the symptoms of HIV appeared. The women accuse the tattoo artist for reusing the same needle a number of times with devastating effects-transmission of disease. It is suspected that perhaps contaminated needle reused innumerable times may have infected these 68 women with the dreaded disease.According to the HIV counselor at the hospital, Uma Singh, 15-20 women test HIV positive every year. Counseling administered post-testing reveals that out of 68 women infected during four years, 20 got infected with HIV from tattoos taken from roadside vendors. Reportedly, all infected women were administered safe childbirth care.Chief Medical Superintendent at the women’s hospital, Dr. Alka Sharma, spoke at length on the modes of transmission and said, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis diseases are spread by transfusions. HIV also spreads through contact with contaminated blood and sharing infected needles. To prevent infection, caution and vigilance are essential.
