India is bolstering its reputation as the pharmacy of the world when it comes to the treatment of one condition in particular: AIDS and the virus which causes it, HIV. In 2017, there were approximately 36.9 million individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with 940,000 people succumbing to the complications of the disease. In that year, 1.8 […]
HIV/AIDS
World AIDS Day 2018: The Indian perspective
2.1 million Indians live with HIV – the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda intends to make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past in India by 2030. On World AIDS Day 2018, we investigate how likely this is to come to pass. Recent years have seen India make […]
In boon for HIV patients, historic law comes into force
The Health Ministry has started implementing of a historic HIV/AIDS bill, which passed in the Rajya Sabha in March. The bill offers comprehensive state provided care to HIV patients. In addition, social protections are to be put in place that would seek to prevent discrimination against HIV positive individuals. India has a relatively low HIV […]
Simulations to track and predict the spread of HIV
The spread of HIV can be both accurately tracked and predicted using computer simulations according to a study published in Nature Microbiology. The news could help India build on its success in reducing rates of HIV transmission. New HIV infections in the country fell from 120,000 in 2010 to 88,000 in 2017. AIDS-related deaths fell […]
HIV hotspots in the northeast: A threat to national progress?
India’s efforts to tackle HIV is bearing fruit. The numbers of new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths and people living with HIV all fell substantially. However, the success did not come without a caveat. India may be making progress against HIV but experts have warned it is not yet on course to meet targets of reducing […]
Fewer Indians living with HIV but still miles to go
Since the start of the decade, India has witnessed significant reductions in its HIV/AIDS burden. New HIV infections fell from 120,000 in 2010 to 88,000 in 2017; AIDS-related deaths decreased from 160,000 to 90,000; and there were 2.1 million people living with HIV in India 2017, compared to 2.3 million in 2010. The findings were […]
“Historic” HIV/AIDS law passed in Parliament
An end to HIV/AIDS discrimination? A ‘historic’ bill has been passed in the Indian Parliament, making it illegal to discriminate against those with HIV/AIDS. The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill was first tabled in 2014 and received the Indian cabinet’s seal of approval last year, before being introduced during the 2016 winter session. […]
A little more conversation: New youth scheme a step forward for public health
A new youth outreach programme is winning praise for challenging social norms in India from the bottom up. By addressing social issues such as safe sex, gender equality, women’s issues, and LGBT rights, it represents a step forward for public health in India. “A paradigm shift” The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is distributing “an instruction […]
Nadda promises to end HIV; will policy follow suit?
“We can now safely say that we can end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.” Such were the bold words of Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda during an event to mark World AIDS Day on December 1. Nadda said that India had defied predictions from “around two decades ago” that it would be “the AIDS […]