India Achieves 44% Reduction in HIV Cases, Outperforms Global Rate

New Delhi: In a significant turn of events ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that India has made notable progress in tackling the HIV epidemic, outperforming the global reduction rate by 5%.

According to the latest India HIV Estimations 2023 report, more than 2.5 million people are living with HIV in India, but a 44 per cent reduction since 2010 have been recorded. The country's adult HIV prevalence is at 0.2 per cent, and annual new HIV infections are estimated at 66,400.

"I India has outperformed the global reduction rate of 39 per cent, demonstrating the success of sustained interventions," said a statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "The availability of free high-quality lifelong treatment for over 16.06 lakh people living with HIV (PLHIV) through 725 ART centers and 12.30 lakh viral load tests conducted between 2022-2023 reflect India's commitment to ensuring care for affected populations."

The progress made by India is a testament to its robust approach in combating the disease, which includes strengthening laws and financial investments to reduce new HIV cases. This has facilitated the country's progress toward the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

"The Global AIDS Update 2023 has acknowledged our strides in tackling HIV/AIDS," said an official from the Ministry. "We are committed to scaling up successful interventions, addressing structural challenges, and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all."

The theme this year's World AIDS Day - "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!" - encapsulates the collective mission to foster inclusivity, uphold human rights, and ensure equal access to healthcare.

India's commitment to ensuring care for affected populations comes ahead of a year that is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the country continues to make progress, it will be important to build upon this foundation to address any remaining challenges and work toward a global goal of ending the epidemic once and for all.