CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AIDS

News

● HIV infection and few facts of policy targets – suggestions to tackle the spread of HIV
infections.

HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

• attacks the body’s immune system
• currently no effective cure – once people get HIV, they have to live with it for life .

• HIV can be controlled – with proper medical care.

• If HIV is not treated – it can lead to AIDS.

• HIV infection unnoticed – due to COVID-19
outbreak India’s Achievements .

• took every possible step to fight against HIV/AIDS .

• in 1990s – information and education campaigns – helped to check the transmission
of HIV infection.

• enforce strict ante-natal protocols – Upgradation of Blood banks with superior
testing facilities.

• excellent awareness programmes and intensive
follow-up action plans .

• led to significant decline in incidence of HIV – till 2013

Facts

• careless approach of the government -resulted in poor implementation of AIDS
control programmes countrywide.

• aim of the World Health Organization – ensure antiretroviral therapy to 90% of the people living with HIV/AIDS – by 2020
 India – pushed the target year by at least five years .

• National Health Policy 2017 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals – aim to end AIDS by 2030.
 This goal – may take longer to achieve.
• HIV infection diagnosis rate dropped from 60% in 2010 to 23% in 2019.
 2010-2019 – mortality rate doubled and new cases spiked five times more .

• National AIDS Control Organization – annual
HIV Estimates report of 2019 – 58,000 AIDS-related deaths and over 69,000 new
HIV infections were added
 Reason – the campaign to educate and empower the vulnerable communities was
losing steam.

Suggestions

• Strong political leadership, financial support, public support and activism essential in the successful handling
 Keep debating the HIV issue – need for multi-sectoral and multi-pronged strategy .

• Trust the formula that supports science- driven responses – good quality data, research findings and consolidating guidelines .

• Repurpose the road map for reducing new HIV infections by 2030
• Strong surveillance system
 The nationalised AIDS treatment plan is a perfect example – early detection,
diagnosis and treatment saved many lives
 use of Integrated Counselling and Testing
Centres in early detection of infections.

• Government – re-energise Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres – to uphold
the right to treatment and the dignity of individuals affected.