Remarkable Victory: New HIV Infections Plummet by 44.23% Since 2010, Minister Celebrates Life-Changing Progress
New data from India reveals a significant 44.23% decline in new HIV infections between 2010 and 2022, outperforming the global reduction rate of 39% over the same period. Released on World AIDS Day by the country’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the “Prevention Progress Update Report 2023-24” underscores the persistent high prevalence of HIV among certain high-risk groups, notably people who inject drugs (9.03%), transgender individuals (3.78%), and men who have sex with men (3.26%). Other groups with higher prevalence include prison inmates, female sex workers, truckers, and migrants.
The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase V (2021-26) aims to target interventions across various risk groups to further reduce new HIV infections. The strategic success is attributed to India’s evidence-based policymaking, which has facilitated focused efforts at national, state, district, and sub-district levels, tailored to specific populations.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda, speaking at a World AIDS Day event, advocated for the inclusion of HIV education within school curricula, especially for students in the 9th and 10th grades, to expand awareness and knowledge. Nadda also highlighted India’s advancements in making HIV treatment widely accessible. From a time of scarce and costly medications, India has transformed into a major supplier of affordable HIV medicines globally, offering free medication to AIDS patients within the country.
Impressively, India has achieved a 79% reduction in AIDS-related deaths and adopted an ambitious 95-95-95 target: detecting 95% of AIDS cases, delivering antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 95% of those identified, and achieving viral suppression in 95% of treated patients. Currently, 81% of those with AIDS are identified, 88% receive ART, and viral suppression is achieved in 97% of cases.
Nadda emphasized the ongoing collective fight against AIDS, commemorating the efforts of those impacted and reinforcing India’s commitment to combating the epidemic.
Original Story https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/4423-dip-in-new-hiv-infections-since-10-minister-101733079871830.html
Category :
Tags:
