World AIDS Day, recognized globally on the 1st of December each year, is a special event dedicated to spreading awareness about AIDS and remembering those who have lost their lives to it. The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated this day in 1988 as the first-ever global health day. It was designed to raise public consciousness about Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and its impact on people worldwide. In 2022, the theme for World AIDS Day is ‘Equalize’. This theme motivates people from all corners of the globe to work together to eliminate the disparities and inequalities causing barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and access to care for HIV. This day also serves as an important reminder that HIV still exists, encouraging target actions including raising funds, expanding awareness, combatting stigma, and enhancing education.
Exploring the Basics of AIDS Disease
AIDS, posing as a chronic, potentially life-threatening health condition, is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which hinders the body’s ability to fight infections. HIV attacks CD4 cells, a type of T cells in the body’s immune system that helps detect abnormalities and infections. As the virus enters the body, it multiplies itself and destroys the CD4 cells, thereby damaging the immune system severely. Despite its detection, HIV cannot be removed from the body post-infection. This disease can get transmitted through direct contact with certain body fluids -blood, semen, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, or breast milk- of an individual already carrying HIV. Upon conversion into AIDS, initial symptoms may include unexplained fatigue, fever, sores around the genitals or neck, pneumonia, etc. To prevent transmission, one should adopt protective techniques, avoid contaminated needles, prevent mother-to-child transmission, go for premarital HIV tests, and follow appropriate treatment if detected.
A Global & National Overview of AIDS Status
Globally, as per UNAIDS, 38.4 million people were living with HIV in 2021, including 1.7 million children, with over half of the infected population being women and girls. Around 85% of those infected were aware of their status in 2021, and approximately 650,000 individuals succumbed to AIDS-related diseases that year. Nationally, the estimate reported 2.4 million people living with HIV in India in 2021, including 70,000 children, with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka recording the highest numbers.
India’s Proactive Initiatives Against AIDS
India has undertaken several measures to control the spread of HIV or AIDS. The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act in 2017 mandates both central and state government to take preventive steps. The country has made Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) affordable and accessible to more than 90% of people living with HIV worldwide. In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to enhance outreach for HIV/AIDS and curtail social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
In an effort to curb increasing HIV prevalence in the northeastern states of India, especially among people injecting drugs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Project Sunrise in 2016.
