Heartening Milestone: HIV Treatment Breaks Barriers, Uplifts Over 3 Lakh Patients in India Within 4 Years
The Indian government reported an increase in the number of HIV-positive patients receiving treatment, rising from 1.38 million in 2019-20 to nearly 1.69 million in 2023-24. Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel revealed these figures in response to a parliamentary question by TMC MP Mala Roy. Currently, 870,000 men, just over 800,000 women, and 6,637 transgender individuals are undergoing treatment for HIV. Maharashtra leads with 240,000 patients, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 220,000. The capital, Delhi, has 39,094 patients under treatment.
Globally, World AIDS Day on December 1 highlights the theme “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!” which advocates for accessible, rights-based healthcare for those affected by HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 40 million people worldwide live with HIV, with 1.3 million new infections reported in 2023—far surpassing the 2025 target of fewer than 370,000 new cases. The WHO South-East Asia Region, which includes India, accounts for roughly 3.9 million of the global HIV population, representing 10% of the worldwide burden.
Despite progress in reducing HIV/AIDS rates through national efforts, challenges remain, according to WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed. In the region, an estimated 80,000 children and adolescents aged 0-14 are living with HIV, largely due to mother-to-child transmission. Furthermore, around 53,000 infants are born with congenital syphilis annually. Effective interventions exist to prevent mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and childbirth, but many children still face complex challenges growing up with HIV. The data underscores the ongoing need for comprehensive healthcare strategies to tackle HIV/AIDS effectively.
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hiv-positive-patients-under-treatment-up-3-lakh-in-4-years/articleshow/115851290.cms
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