In 7 yrs, HIV cases in India dropped by 27%: UN report

New Delhi:

India has witnessed a major reduction in its AIDS burden with new HIV cases dropping by 26.6% and AIDS-related deaths declining 56.8% between 2010 and 2017 backed by sustained and focused efforts, a latest report by the United Nations says. The report warned the epidemic was growing in Pakistan and Philippines.

In India, new HIV infections dropped from 1.2 lakh 2010 to 88,000 in 2017, AIDSrelated deaths from 1.6 lakh to 69,000 and people living with HIV from 23 lakh to 21 lakh in the same time period.

In fact, India has done better than the global average in terms of improvement percentage. Globally, new infections declined by merely 18% since 2010 against a target of 75% by 2020, though deaths due to the virus have dropped by 34% during 2010-2017 with expansion of anti-retroviral therapy and increasing access to other treatment options, the report said.

“Sustained and focused efforts to reach key populations have led to major reductions in HIV infections in Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between 2010 and 2017. However, epidemics are expanding in Pakistan and Philippines,” the report titled ‘Miles to go -closing gaps, breaking barriers, righting injustices’ said. The report has been prepared by the joint UN Agency on AIDS (UNAIDS).

Source: Times of India, 25/07/2018