India has seen a significant decline in HIV infections, with a 44% reduction since 2010, Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced on Sunday. This progress is accompanied by a 79% drop in AIDS-related deaths, the final stage of HIV infection.
Despite having the third-largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS globally, with an estimated 30.14 lakh people affected in 2023, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), India has experienced a significant decrease in new diagnoses since 2010.
The 2023-24 prevention progress report revealed that HIV prevalence remains significantly higher among high-risk groups compared to the national adult prevalence of 0.20%. The highest rates are found among people who inject drugs (9.03%), followed by transgender individuals (3.78%), men who have sex with men (3.26%), prison inmates (1.99%), female sex workers (1.85%), truckers (1.00%), and migrants (0.89%).
Speaking at the World AIDS Day event in Indore, Union Health Minister Nadda said that India is committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating AIDS by 2030, introducing the ongoing Phase V of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP).
Launched as a Central Sector Scheme for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹15,471.94 crore, NACP Phase-V aims to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 80% by 2025-26, compared to the baseline values of 2010.
Key Objectives Of NACP Phase-V Include:
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control:
- Ensure that 95% of high-risk individuals have access to comprehensive prevention services.
- Achieve the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of HIV-positive individuals know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are receiving treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
- Eliminate vertical transmission by ensuring that 95% of pregnant women with HIV have suppressed viral loads.
- Reduce stigma and discrimination, ensuring that less than 10% of people living with HIV and key populations are affected.
STI/RTI Prevention and Control:
- Provide universal access to high-quality services for at-risk populations.
- Eliminate vertical transmission of syphilis
Explaining the formula of "95-95-95" in view of the target of eliminating AIDS by 2030, Nadda explained, ""Ninety-five percent of the patients in the country should know that they are infected with HIV, 95 percent of the patients should get treatment, and the "viral load" of 95 percent of the patients should be lessened by antiretroviral therapy medicines."
Currently, 81% of patients know they are infected with HIV, 88% of patients are being given treatment, and the viral load of 97% of patients has reduced, the union minister shared.
Furthermore, he spoke about India’s progress in HIV treatment accessibility. “From a time when there was no medicine for AIDS to dealing with over-expensive medicines to now becoming a net supplier of HIV medicines to the world, India has come a long way in its fight against AIDS. Today, India is taking a lead in AIDS control by producing the most affordable as well as effective medicines and sharing them with the neediest. The Union government provides free medicines for AIDS patients,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of World AIDS Day, he stated, “World AIDS Day is a moment to reiterate that we are all together in the fight against AIDS, as well as to remember and rededicate the efforts of those people who have fought against this disease and lost their loved ones as well.