In a bold declaration from Guwahati, NACO chief Rakesh Gupta revealed India’s roadmap to conquer HIV by December 2027 through Mission AIDS Suraksha. Speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day regional review for North-Eastern states, Gupta underscored the urgency of accelerating HIV control efforts in this vulnerable zone.
North-East India continues to demand focused attention, hosting 60 of the nation’s 219 high-priority districts (Sikkim aside). This workshop initiates a series of intensive reviews designed to supercharge progress at the district level across the region.
Gupta, doubling as Additional Secretary in Health and Family Welfare, stressed that the gathering aims to fortify strategies for district-level implementation, ensuring swift achievement of national targets. Spotlighting Meghalaya’s involvement, sessions are honing in on ramping up activities in East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, and West Jaintia Hills.
Nationwide momentum builds with ‘Suraksha Sankalp Karjshala’ workshops slated for February-March 2026 in eleven regions, encompassing every high-priority district. Guwahati’s event, the first in line, unites 60 districts from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
Participants are crafting bespoke plans to hit the ambitious 95-95-99 goals: 95% HIV awareness among infected individuals, 95% ART access for the diagnosed, and 99% viral load suppression for those treated.
Discussions delve deep into NACP execution, prioritizing district accountability, performance metrics evaluation, gap analysis, and localized action plans based on epidemiological data. With state AIDS control leaders and program heads present, the three-batch format fosters targeted dialogues.
Outcomes promise precise roadmaps for each state, solidifying India’s resolve against HIV/AIDS as a public health priority and propelling Mission AIDS Suraksha toward victory by 2027.