India Sees 44% Dip In HIV Rates Since 2010; Better Than Global Average

Despite a whopping 2.5 million people living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in India, the country has seen a significant dip in diagnoses since 2010, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said ahead of World AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Day, December 1. According to the India HIV Estimations 2023 report, there has been a 44.23% reduction in HIV rates and a 79% reduction in AIDS deaths.

The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!” which is aimed at fostering inclusivity and equitable healthcare and upholding human rights. The first World AIDS Day was marked on December 1, 1988, to fight the stigma around the disease. 

HIV In India

The adult HIV prevalence in India is 0.2% and annual new infections are estimated at 66,400. The ministry also shared statistics on government efforts to curb HIV. "Through the NACP Phase-V and its rights-based approach, India has made significant progress in prevention, treatment, and care."

The key objectives of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-V are:

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control:

• Ensure 95% of high-risk individuals access comprehensive prevention services.
• Achieve 95-95-95 targets: 95% of HIV-positive individuals know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95% of those patients achieve viral suppression.
• Eliminate vertical transmission by ensuring 95% of pregnant women with HIV have suppressed viral loads
• Less than 10% of people living with HIV and key populations experience stigma and discrimination

STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection)/ RTI (Reproductive Tract Infection) Prevention and Control:

• Provide universal access to high-quality services for at-risk populations.
• Eliminate vertical transmission of syphilis

The ministry said, "The availability of free high-quality lifelong treatment for over 16.06 lakh people living with HIV (PLHIV) through 725 Antiretroviral Therapy Centres and 12.30 lakh viral load tests conducted between 2022–2023 reflect India’s commitment to ensuring care for affected populations."

Notably, India's HIV reduction rate has outperformed the global rate, which stands at 39%, the ministry said in a press statement. The Global AIDS Update 2023 released by The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), also acknowledged the strides made by India in combating HIV.

They lauded India's “robust legal framework and financial investments" for the decline in new HIV cases. India is progressing toward the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, said the report, acknowledging the country “for strengthening laws to protect the rights of vulnerable populations”.

The Health Ministry acknowledged the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle systemic challenges and scale up successful interventions. "India is poised to lead the global fight against HIV/AIDS, ensuring a healthier, stigma-free future for all," the press release read.