India And World On Overcoming AIDS

Just two years ago India and other countries were hit by the advent of a virus that turned the whole world upside down and the human race faced a severe existential crisis. Scientists, Intellectuals and scholars were stunned as it has no medication or vaccine. As per the medical professionals, the lives which survived throughout the time had strong immunity. But what if a virus attacks this immunity, HIV (Human Immuno Virus) is one such virus that strikes directly the immunity of a person and when this infection reaches its last stage it is converted into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

As per the data from World Health Organisation (WHO), globally 38.4 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2021. An estimated 0.7 per cent of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions. The data said 650,000 people died of HIV-related illness in 2021. 

While the figures released by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), In India there is nearly 47.91 thousand death were registered in 2021. As per one of the responses to the RTI query, Over 17 lakh people contracted HIV in the country in the last 10 years due to unprotected intercourse.

More than a lethal illness, AIDS Has been remained a social stigma in India and around the world, a patient suffering from AIDS has to face social discrimination along with the agony of the disease. It was the fake perception among the common people around the world that AIDS is a contagious disease that can be spread with a single touch. However, these perceptions are being discarded through advertisements and awareness programmes.

The usage of condoms, contraceptives and the concept of safe sex is promoted heavily to protect people from getting HIV. AIDS is a disease that came into existence that did not have accurate treatment which is why it needed to be prevented. Promotion of ways of prevention of AIDS among the public is the only feasible option to resist its spread on large scale. 

Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day in order to extend the same level of awareness for AIDS patients in society. the UNAIDS World AIDS Day report 2022 reveals that inequalities are the main reason behind the obstruction of its ending. 

India too actively participates in the elimination drive of AIDS through campaigns from government authorities and non-government organisations. Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar virtually inaugurated the World AIDS Day celebrations on the theme of ‘Equalize’ which is a slogan for a call to action for all connected with this crusade. 

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO ) is one such body that works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and envisions an India where every person living with HIV has access to quality care and is treated with dignity. 

And due to these attempts, there are declining trends of 76.5 per cent in AIDS-Related Deaths (ARD) has been estimated at the national level from 2010-21 in India. The declining trend is noted almost in all states/UTs.

Prevention is better than cure but when there is no cure, prevention is the only way to sustain.