India Leads Fight Against HIV/AIDS with Focus on Rights and Equity
New Delhi/Shimla: On World AIDS Day 2024, themed "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!", India reiterated its commitment to combating HIV/AIDS through inclusive healthcare and human rights-driven strategies.
With 2.5 million Indians living with HIV and a 44% reduction in annual new infections since 2010, the country has demonstrated remarkable progress. However, systemic inequalities and stigma remain persistent barriers.
Building on decades of effort, India’s National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), now in its fifth phase (2021-2026), aims to slash annual new infections and AIDS-related deaths by 80% by 2025-26, compared to 2010 levels.
Backed by a ₹15,471.94 crore allocation, NACP Phase-V emphasizes universal healthcare access, legal safeguards, and community-centered interventions.
Himachal’s Leadership in the HIV/AIDS Fight
In Himachal Pradesh, initiatives under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) have gained traction with the integration of advanced healthcare technologies like HIMCARE and HIMSAC (Himachal Medical Services Access Campaign).
These state-run programs complement the NACP’s goals by improving healthcare accessibility, especially in remote mountainous regions.
Free antiretroviral therapy (ART), mobile medical units, and grassroots awareness campaigns have been instrumental in ensuring no one is left behind.
Achievements and Challenges
India’s "Test and Treat" policy ensures every HIV-positive individual receives ART, regardless of their clinical stage. Initiatives like Mission Sampark, re-engaging those who dropped out of treatment, have helped maintain a robust support system.
With over 725 ART centers nationwide, India conducted 12.30 lakh viral load tests in 2022-23, ensuring comprehensive care for PLHIV.
Despite successes, social stigma and discrimination remain hurdles. Programs targeting high-risk groups—such as migrant laborers and the LGBTQ+ community—are crucial in eliminating these barriers.
Himachal’s HIMSAC framework, focusing on rural outreach, aligns with this rights-based approach, ensuring marginalized communities have equal access to healthcare, said a state health official.
Future Goals: A Stigma-Free India by 2030
The NACP Phase-V focuses on achieving 95-95-95 targets:
95% of PLHIV know their status.
95% of diagnosed individuals are on treatment.
95% achieve viral suppression.
Himachal Pradesh has shown how localized solutions and technology integration can fast-track progress.
By eradicating vertical transmission and ensuring that less than 10% of PLHIV experience stigma, the state aims to lead the way in building a stigma-free India.
"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege," said union health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda at nationalday function. "We’re committed to bringing health equity to even the farthest villages of country".
As India marches toward its goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, campaigns like World AIDS Day 2024 serve as a powerful reminder: achieving Universal Health Coverage and upholding the Right to Health is not just a mission—it’s a promise.
