HIV in India

AIDS had not affected India, as much as it did to the other western and African countries. It ranks 89th in the world.0.34% people in India are affected by AIDS. But the population of India is so huge, that the 0.34% accounts for 2.31 million people…… a big reason to worry. 29% of the patients are women, 3.5% are children and 67.7% are men (according to the latest data by NACO; National AIDS Control Organization, WHO and UNAIDS).

In India, the general population has less vulnerability to AIDS, due to their conservative sexual behaviour. The groups that are prone to HIV are, IDUs (Injected Drug Users) mostly hailing of the north east (7.2%); sex workers (5.1%), from the north east and the rest of the country; clinic attendees, who catch the disease as a result of accidental needle stick (4%); and MSM (men who have sexual relation with men), mostly dominant below the Deccan Region (7.4%).

Karnataka gives the maximum number of reported cases of HIV in India. The statistics is significantly high because of homosexuals (17.6%) and MSM (8.4%). Maharashtra reports the highest number of IDUs (24.4%) followed by Manipur (17.9%) and the rest of the northeast.

Infection of HIV in India

HIV in India is more prevalent between the age group of 30-34 (0.54%). In India, many of the cases go unreported or undiagnosed. This is due to the Social stigma attached to the disease and often, lack of health care services in the remote areas of the country. Most of the HIV patients

belong to the lower sections of the society. Due to lack of education and awareness, a good anti AIDS campaign turns out to be a failure in the rural areas.

It is believed that India is the carrier of Subtype O of HIV 1 virus. Subtype 'O', which originated in Cameroon, stands for 'out liars'.

India has been taking genuine efforts to curtail the growth of this disease since late 80s. Even the population cooperated with all the endeavors taken up by the government. It used the media (both traditional and electronic) to familiarize the people with its adversities. Many NGOs, government bodies and communities are dedicated to the cause. NACO is the biggest government organization, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that initiated anti AIDS movements in India, with the help of 35 State HIV/AIDS prevention and control Societies working under it.

The poor infrastructure in India has drawn attention of several international bodies to collaborate with NACO. The Australian Agency for International Development, the Canadian International Development Agency, UK Department for International Development, and USAID have all backed up NACO since 1995. The combined effort could successfully reduce the number of infected from 5.5 million in 2005 to 2.5 million in 2007.

The activities taken up by NACO include support group network for pwople affected with AIDS, Free HIV counseling and testing, Antiretrovial therapy, Public education etc.

Despite all the efforts and all the improvements, the current scenario does not look like a bed of roses. Having a number of tribal areas, where vulnerability to AIDS is maximum, and the government must take extra care to safeguard these zones.