Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda announced that India has achieved major milestones in its fight against HIV and AIDS, notably recording India HIV decline figures that surpass global averages. Consequently, the Minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat during the national observance of World AIDS Day. He emphasized the government’s sustained progress through the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP-V).
Achieving Success Under NACP-V
Since 2010, the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has delivered strong, measurable results. Specifically, new HIV infections have dropped by a remarkable 48.7% by 2024. Furthermore, AIDS-related deaths have seen an even sharper fall, plunging by 81.4% in the same period. In addition, mother-to-child transmission also significantly decreased by 74.6%. These national achievements are superior to global averages for the same timeframe. Indeed, India achieved a 35% reduction in new infections, which is greater than the global 32% reduction. Similarly, the 69% decline in HIV-related deaths significantly exceeded the global average reduction of 37%. Because of these successful public health efforts, India is firmly on track to achieve the global 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
Expanded Testing and Treatment Drive India HIV Decline
The success of NACP-V is directly linked to expanded access to essential services. For instance, testing coverage increased substantially, rising from 4.13 crore tests in 2020-21 to 6.62 crore by 2024-25. Moreover, the number of individuals receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has grown from 14.94 lakh to 18.60 lakh. Viral load testing also expanded significantly, climbing from 8.90 lakh to 15.98 lakh tests. Therefore, progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets remains strong. Awareness of HIV status currently stands at 85%, while treatment coverage has reached 88%. Impressively, viral load suppression is exceptionally high at 97%. The government attributes these results to strong political commitment, sustained domestic investment, and evidence-based programme strategies.
Addressing Co-infections and Stigma
Despite the considerable progress, India still faces significant hurdles. Notably, a large percentage of Tuberculosis (TB) patients are co-infected and living with HIV. Furthermore, poor adherence to ART—such as failing to take tablets regularly or missing ART center visits—remains a major challenge. Consequently, intensified counselling, follow-up, and community support are essential to address this issue. The government is dedicated to a rights-based, stigma-free, and inclusive HIV response. To strengthen this commitment, the landmark HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2014, implemented in 2017, provides a legally protected, discrimination-free environment for people living with HIV. Moreover, India leads the global fight against AIDS by supplying affordable and quality medicines worldwide, demonstrating its responsibility to humanity. A new national multimedia campaign series was also launched, focusing on youth awareness, eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis, and ending stigma and discrimination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much have new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths declined in India since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2024, new HIV infections declined by 48.7%, and AIDS-related deaths saw an 81.4% reduction. These figures surpass the corresponding global averages.
Q2: Where does India stand on the global 95-95-95 targets?
India is firmly on track to achieve the global 95-95-95 targets by 2030. The current progress indicators show that awareness of HIV status has reached 85%, treatment coverage stands at 88%, and viral load suppression is exceptionally high at 97%. For medical professionals looking to advance expertise in public health management and infection control, exploring specialized training options like the Postgraduate Diploma In Infectious Disease can be highly beneficial.
Q3: What major challenge does the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) still face?
A significant challenge is poor adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), such as not taking tablets regularly, particularly among patients co-infected with Tuberculosis (TB). This requires intensified counselling and community support.
References
- India recorded major declines in new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths: Nadda – ETHealthworld
- India recorded major declines in new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths: JP Nadda – hindustantimes.com
- World AIDS Day 2025: India halves new HIV cases, AIDS deaths drop over 80% – business-standard.com
- Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda inaugurates World AIDS Day 2025 event at Vigyan Bhawan – pib.gov.in
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