Annual HIV infections declined by 50% in last decade: Govt

Cases of fresh HIV infections have declined by over 50 per cent in the country annually during the last decade, says the UPA government's report card released today.

Cases of fresh HIV infections have declined by over 50 per cent in the country annually during the last decade, says the UPA government's report card released today.

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The report said around 3.84 lakhs persons living with HIV/AIDS in the country are receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART) and wider access to ART has resulted in decline in the estimated number of people dying due to AIDS. The report also said prevention of HIV among high risk groups, through targeted intervention, which is the main strategy under the National AIDS Control Programme Phase-III, has been scaled up over the years to 1,447 projects, as on March 31, this year.

"Prevention messages are widely disseminated through campaigns such as the Red Ribbon Express, to ensure that they reach the general population. Counselling and testing services were provided to 106 lakhs persons, including 45.9 lakhs pregnant women, up to December, 2010," says Government of the UPA: Report to the People, which was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

Out of 12,429 pregnant women detected positive during this period, 8,492 mother-baby pairs were provided prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission, it said.