World AIDS Day 2021 | National Health Portal Of India

World AIDS Day 2021

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year since 1988. It is dedicated to raise awareness, educate and improve the understanding of HIV as a global public health problem. It provides an opportunity to understand the interdependence between progress in ending Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and progress towards Universal Health Coverage and the right to health.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2021 is “End inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics”.

The day focuses on the increasing inequalities & inequities in access to the healthcare services for HIV due to Covid-19. This is a call for all to reach the people who are currently not receiving the AIDS related services to make lives of people living with HIV less challenging.

According to WHO, in 2020,

37.7 million people living with HIV have been reported in 2020
HIV caused around 1 million deaths, globally
1.5 million new cases were detected in 2020

The new target set by UNAIDS, 95-95-95, will need to redouble efforts to decrease the numbers of HIV infections due to healthcare disruptions and to increase the public health response to HIV.

What is HIV/AIDS?

Infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the human body results into weakening of people’s immune system (defense system) against infections and some types of cancer. This immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections, cancers and other diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off.

The most advanced stage of HIV infection is called as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is defined by the occurrence of any of more than 20 opportunistic infections or HIV-related cancers.

Signs and symptoms:

The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. The first few weeks after initial infection, individuals may experience no symptoms or an influenza-like illness including fever, headache, rash, or sore throat.
As the infection progresses, an individual can develop other signs and symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhoea and cough.
Without treatment, they could develop severe illnesses such as tuberculosis, meningitis, severe bacterial infections and cancers.

How is HIV transmitted?

Sexual Contact: The most frequent mode of transmission of HIV is through sexual contact with an infected person.
Sharing needles or syringes: HIV can be transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with HIV infected blood.
Receiving blood transfusions, blood products, or organ/tissue transplants that are contaminated with HIV can result into HIV infection.
From mother to child: A pregnant woman infected with HIV can transmit the virus to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

High Risk groups (HRGs)- Female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender (TG) and injecting drug users (IDUs) belong to high risk groups.

Bridge Populations- Individuals who have sexual partners in the high risk groups as well as other partners of lower risk (general population) are called a “bridge population” because they form a transmission bridge from the HRGs to the general population. Truckers and Migrant workers are named as bridge population due to their close proximity with high risk groups and are at the risk of contracting HIV.

HIV is not transmitted:

By hugging, shaking hands, sharing toilets, sharing dishes, or closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who is HIV-positive.
By mosquitoes, ticks or other blood-sucking insects.

Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS:

National Aids Control Programme (NACP) is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The programme is being implemented through the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) and District AIDS Prevention and Control Units (DAPCUs) in the country to reduce new infections by 50% (2007 Baseline of NACP III) and to provide comprehensive care, support and treatment to all persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Even though the prevalence of HIV is decreasing over the last decade, following activities under the NACP would provide essential support in arresting new infections and thereby achieving the target of "Ending the epidemic by 2030" for Sustainable Development Goals.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Disease (AIDS) Prevention and Control Bill to ensure equal rights to the people infected with HIV and AIDS in getting treatment and prevent discrimination of any kind.
‘Test and Treat Policy’ for HIV with the objective of “as soon as a person is tested and found to be positive, he will be provided with ART irrespective of his CD count or clinical stage.”
The life-saving third- line ART treatment for HIV patients free of cost
95-95-95 by 2024: To identify 95% of people living with HIV, place 95% of people identified as living with HIV on treatment and ensure that 95% of people on treatment have sustained viral load suppression by 2024.

Red Ribbon Express- It travels across the country through a specified route chart to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS, promote safe behavioural practices, strengthen people's knowledge about the measures to be taken to prevent this epidemic and develop an understanding about the disease to reduce stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Keyways to prevent HIV transmission

Practice safe sexual behaviours such as condoms
Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
Never share needles or other injecting equipment, including syringes, spoons and swabs (injecting drug users).
All pregnant women should be tested for HIV as a part of routine antenatal screening, and start HIV treatment immediately if found positive for HIV.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): It is the short-term antiretroviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure, either occupationally or through sexual intercourse.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is advised to those people who do not have HIV but are at very high risk of getting HIV to prevent HIV infection by taking medicine.

FAQs- http://naco.gov.in/faqs

For more information- http://naco.gov.in/,www.nhp.gov.in

National Strategic Plan for HIV/ AIDS and STI 2017- 2024

HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2017-click here

Related Pages:

World AIDS Strategy 2021-2026

World AIDS Day 2020

World AIDS Day 2019

World AIDS Day 2018

References-

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/world-aids-day-2021

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids