HIV infections in India drop by 57%: UN report

The rate of new HIV infections in India has dropped by an encouraging 57 per cent over the last decade thanks to increased domestic spending towards the AIDS response. According to a new UN report, incidence of new HIV infections has fallen by half across 25 countries.

Between 2001 and 2011, the rate of new HIV infections in India dropped by 57% as the country scaled up services, the UNAIDS World Aids Day report 2012 said.

Four countries that account for a large number of people living with HIV in the region — India, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Thailand — reduced new HIV infections by more than 50%. "Exceptional leadership is coming from the world's fastest-growing emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Together, they contribute to more than half of all domestic spending on AIDS in low and middle-income countries. Their momentum is unparalleled, having increased domestic public spending by more than 122% between 2006 and 2011," the report said.

China currently invests more than 80% domestically, and the country has announced it will fully fund its AIDS response in the coming years. India has committed to increase domestic funding to more than 90 per cent in its next phase of the AIDS response.

"These fast growing economies have the potential to support others in the region, as well as exert leadership and influence on the AIDS response, both locally and globally," the report added.