Shibani Datta
All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, India
Title: The current scenario of HIV/AIDS and the National AIDS Control Programme in India
Biography
Biography: Shibani Datta
Abstract
The last decade has seen a 50% decline in the number of new HIV infections in India. Despite being home to the world's third-largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS (with South Africa and Nigeria having more), the AIDS prevalence rate in India is lower than in many other countries. In 2014, India's AIDS prevalence rate stood at approximately 0.26% — the 90th highest in the world. The spread of HIV in India is primarily restricted to the southern and north-eastern regions of the country and India has also been praised for its extensive anti-AIDS campaign. The main factors which have contributed to India's large HIV-infected population are extensive labor migration and low literacy levels in certain rural areas resulting in lack of awareness and gender disparity. The Government of India has also raised concerns about the role of intravenous drug use and prostitution in spreading AIDS, especially in north-east India and certain urban pockets. To control the spread of the virus, the Indian government set up the National AIDS Control Programme in 1987to co-ordinate national responses such as blood screening and health education . On February 12, 2014 Government of India launched the fourth phase of its anti-AIDS/HIV strategy, the National AIDS Control Programme, NACP 1V, under the banner of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The highlights of the programme are Reversal of AIDS epidemic through a participative/inclusive approach, Targeting High Risk Groups (HRG) – truckers, migrants, pregnant women, etc, Strengthening the response in India through a cautious and well defined integration process (testing and counselling), discussion with stakeholders , promotion of female condoms, upscaling the antiretroviral therapy ,social protection and prevention of parent to child transmission etc.