New Delhi, October 18 (IANS). AIDS Society of India (ASI) urged the government to include HIV self-testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication in its policies and programs to prevent HIV without any delay.
One in five people living with HIV in the country is not aware of their HIV status. The World Health Organization recommends HIV self-testing as part of the HIV care cascade, as it is an important approach to address gaps in HIV diagnosis in 2019, particularly among key populations.
Dr. Ishwar Gilada, President Emeritus AIDS Society of India, said, “We need to ensure that 100 percent of people living with HIV know their status, so that they can get the full benefit of HIV care services and they can control the virus.” Be free from AIDS, which is essential for them to live full and healthy lives as well as end AIDS.
According to the fifth edition of the National AIDS Control Organisation’s ‘Concept Report 2023’, 79 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 86 per cent of them are on antiretroviral therapy and 93 per cent of them have mild symptoms.
Dr. Gilada claimed that India’s role in global prevention of HIV-related deaths is commendable. However, about 92 percent of people living with HIV and at risk of getting infected with HIV worldwide are taking anti-retrovirals made in India.
According to ASI, HIV prevalence is 4 times among migrants, 5 times among truck drivers, 9 times among prisoners in central jails and female sex workers, 16 times among men who have sex with men (MSM), 18 times among transgender people. And HIV prevalence is 43 times that among people who use drugs.
–IANS
MKS/CBT
