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Mahesh

02/12/23 10:57 AM IST

AIDS can be stopped with science-backed tools

In News
  • Since the first diagnosed case of HIV in 1981, it is estimated that globally 39 million persons are now living with HIV. In India the figure is 2.4 million.
Prevention of HIV
  • There were 1.3 million new HIV infections in 2022 globally and 63,000 in India.
  • Most transmissions occur in the key population include female sex workers, men having sex with men, transgender community and injecting drug users.
  • Prevention interventions using behavioural change never stopped HIV spread significantly.
  • There are no vaccines for HIV despite extensive research. Involving the communities and making them the focus will prevent infections.
  • Persons who acquire HIV end up with compromised immune systems which lead to opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, fungal meningitis, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, a variety of skin lesions and certain cancers.
  • These co-morbid conditions result in advanced HIV disease and progression to death.
  • In 2022, 650,000 persons died due to these conditions globally. In India, AIDS caused 42,000 deaths.
  • Many of these opportunistic infections are preventable and treatable.
WHO  Guidelines
  • Today we have effective antiretroviral medications available to prevent the multiplication of HIV.
  • People with HIV who are on these antiretroviral medications can lead a normal, healthy lifestyle without developing opportunistic infections.
  • Results from clinical trials recommend starting Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) soon after diagnosis.
  • The Voluntary Health Services Infectious Diseases Medical Centre in Chennai participated in the landmark global START clinical trial and based on the results, WHO Guidelines recommend rapid ART initiation for maximum benefit. Several lower and middle-income countries haven’t implemented this guidance effectively.
  • Analysis shows initiating early Antiretroviral therapy soon after diagnosis is cost-effective and cost-saving.
  • Health care program managers need appropriate training on such scientific evidence to facilitate the implementation at an appropriate time without delay.
  • Almost 21 million lives have been saved with antiretroviral therapy globally.
  • India’s capacity to produce generic HIV medicines and supply them worldwide led to major successes in the global AIDS fight. Over 90% of antiretrovirals consumed globally were from India.
AIDS - a pandemic
  • More than 2.5 million people were acquiring HIV each year, and AIDS was claiming two million lives a year.
  • The estimated 1.3 million new HIV infections in 2022 were the fewest in decades, with the declines especially strong in regions with the highest HIV burdens .
  • These effects were due to the combination of effective antiretroviral therapy which resulted in community viral suppression and the introduction of PrEP to prevent HIV acquisition.
  • Despite advocacy programs, the national program in India has not yet introduced PrEP in India. These delays in implementation will lead to an unstoppable spread of HIV.
  • By 2025, 95% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) should have a diagnosis, 95% of those should be taking lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 95% of PLHIV on treatment should achieve a suppressed viral load to improve health and reduce onward HIV transmission. In 2022, these percentages were 86%, 89% and 93% respectively.
Source- The Hindu

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