As year comes to an end, NACO falls short in its anti-HIV drive

This year saw many states reporting more cases of HIV/ AIDS, debunking the argument that the infection is on the decline in India. A long list of unmet targets of National AIDS Control Programme for the year 2016-17 doesn't spell good news either.

According to the latest data with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, most of the indicators under National AIDS Control Organisation's (NACO) National AIDS Control Programme, Phase IV, that were to be achieved until July 2016 for the years 2016-17, are falling short.

Target shortfalls

NACO was found to be way behind its mid-year target in the distribution of free condoms. Instead of distributing 36.6 crore pieces, NACO only managed distributing 5.26 crore till July 2016 under phase IV.

Sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections (STI/RTI) are one of the most important indicators under prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Till July 2016, only 25.09 lakh patients were managed, when the target was to manage around 90 lakh patients.

The programme could only test 57.7 lakh general clients for HIV, when under the program over 140 lakh clients were to be tested. Also only 49.1 lakh pregnant women were tested for HIV till July, when 140 lakh pregnant women were to be tested.

Similarly, only 0.52 lakh persons trained under mainstream training programmes against the target of 3 lakh. The programmes could only achieve a collection of 20.73 lakh units of blood collection in NACO supported blood banks against the requirement of 55 lakh.

Committee rap for NACO

A parliamentary committee pulled up NACO for the delay in its actions and existence of infection in high burden states. "It is a matter of serious concern that some states are showing a trend of HIV prevalence. Though NACO has taken steps to contain this trend, the committee would like NACO to improve the implementation of this scheme in the HIV prevalence states. NACO should also ensure that benefits of specific measures percolate down to all the intended beneficiaries," the committee report said.

India's HIV prevalence report card

Currently over 9.40 lakh HIV people are getting free ART treatment in India. HIV prevalence in India is 0.26 per cent. As per India HIV Estimation 2015 report, adult HIV prevalence has declined from 0-34 per cent in 2007 to 0.26 in 2015.

Declining trends in adult HIV prevalence have sustained in all high prevalence states: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tamil Nadu during 2007- 2015.