Union Health Minister inaugurates World AIDS Day 2024 event

The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), has been observing World AIDS Day annually on December 1 since 1992.

About HIV Virus

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): It attacks and destroys the CD4 cells (CD4 T lymphocyte) of the immune system. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in protecting the body from infection.
HIV belongs to the Retrovirus family: Retroviruses have their instructions written on Ribonucleic acid (RNA). When a retrovirus invades cells, it changes its RNA to look like cells’ instructions (Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)).
- Then it cuts cells’ DNA and inserts its instructions into them, effectively hijacking cellular genetic machinery.
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is treatment of people infected with HIV using anti-HIV drugs
If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HIV status in India:

Over 2.4 million people living with HIV in India, 3^rd largest in the world.
New HIV cases in India have decreased by 44% since 2010 which is higher than the global reduction rate of 39%.

Initiatives taken by India

India has adopted a 90-90-90 target for combating AIDS. This target was later increased to 95-95-95, out of which 81% people with AIDS have been identified, 88% are being given ART and viral load of 97% identified people has been suppressed.
National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-V: Aims to reduce annual new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortalities by 80% by 2025-26 from the baseline value of 2010.
Others: India's HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017; ‘Mission Sampark’ initiative (2017).