The rate of HIV prevalence has been showing a dip in the last few years. And now, organisations working to contain the disease is trying to tie up the loose ends—bring down the rate of HIV among migrants and truckers, which is still quite high.
According to health officials in Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) and Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), the rate of HIV among migrants and truckers is still high. "In Maharashtra, 1% of migrant and trucker population is HIV positive, which is high when compared to other high risk groups. Hence, this year, we are focusing on migrants and truckers to bring down the rate among this group," said Khushalsinh Pardeshi, project director, MSACS.
As migrants and truckers are a floating population, tracking them and following up become difficult. Hence to target this section, MDACS is starting an integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC) in Mumbai Port Trust area.
"This is one area that was out of our reach for a while. We have finally succeeded in starting two mobile ICTC units in this area on fixed days when the maximum number of truckers congregate here," said Dr Shrikala Acharya, additional project director, Mumbai District Aids Control Society.
One ICTC will function at the Yellow Gate, and the other at seafarers hostel premises in Masjid Bunder that has 1,000 rooms.
Among the districts, Mumbai still tops the chart in prevalence rate, followed by Thane, Raigad, Nagpur and Pune.
"These districts have high migrant population, which is the main cause of high HIV prevalence in them," said Pardeshi.
Current situation
57% overall reduction in annual new HIV infection (among adult population) in India in the last decade (from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011).
88.7% of infections in India are in the age group of 15-49 years.
Infection rate in 15-29 age group is about 31% of the total.
Estimated rate of HIV prevalence in India has come down from 0.33% to 0.27%; in Maharashtra it has come down from 0.61% in 2007 to 0.40 in 2012-13.
Estimated annual new infection in Maharashtra has come down from 10,431 in 2007 to 5,893 in 2011. There has been 49% decline in the annual estimated AIDS-related deaths in Maharashtra from 2007 to 2013.
Maharashtra has an estimated 4.2 lakh HIV infected population (2006), but it has successfully contained the overall prevalence of HIV.
According to NACO, an estimated 2.31 million are infected with HIV in India (88.7% in 15-49 age group, 7.5% in 50+, and 3.5% in below-15). The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country is 0.27%. Women account for about 40% of patients.
The overall adult HIV prevalence (HSS 2012-13) in Maharashtra has declined to 0.40 %, and Maharashtra has been able to effectively reach out to 6,56,465 PLHA as of October 31, 2014 and HIV care services are made available to 1,79,136 PLHA who are alive and on ART through 70 ART & 155L ink ART Centres (MSACS).
HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) to find ANC HIV prevalence shows that it has declined from 1.15 in 2003 to 0.40 in 2012-13. Under MSACS, out of an annual target of 18,75,655 ANC testing for the year 2014-15, tests have been conducted on 10,73,200 ANC mothers (57.21%) from April to October 2014, of whom 858 were found to be positive and are on PPTCT programme with positivity rate 0.07%.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}