News Analysis India

Tag: HIV

  • Only three in 10 prisoners tested for HIV in 53 jails, says NACO report  

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Only three in 10 prisoners in 53 central jails have been tested for HIV in the last 12 months, even though HIV prevalence among people behind bars was about 1.93 per cent, which is nine times higher than the general population, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report.

    Moreover, HIV prevalence among prisoners was comparable to female sex workers in India, who continue to fall under a heavy HIV burden. The findings also established an over-representation of injecting drug users (IDU) in Indian prisons than the general population.

    The technical report on HIV sentinel surveillance plus 2021 central prison sites found that the knowledge about HIV/AIDS was much below desired levels among inmates, of which over 59 per cent were convicted and the rest were under trials.

    Describing it as a “critical gap and a priority area for future interventions”, the study conducted among 20,695 inmates lodged in 53 central jails in 26 states found that only three out of five HIV-positive were on antiretroviral (ART) drugs.

    The findings also indicated sexual activities in prison, with five out of every 100 inmates reporting its prevalence, and only three-fifths reported using condoms with their paid partners. The study found highest HIV prevalence was noted in  Mizoram (26 per cent), followed by Punjab (7.5 per cent), Nagaland (4.6 per cent) and Chandigarh (3.5 per cent).

    NEW DELHI:  Only three in 10 prisoners in 53 central jails have been tested for HIV in the last 12 months, even though HIV prevalence among people behind bars was about 1.93 per cent, which is nine times higher than the general population, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report.

    Moreover, HIV prevalence among prisoners was comparable to female sex workers in India, who continue to fall under a heavy HIV burden. The findings also established an over-representation of injecting drug users (IDU) in Indian prisons than the general population.

    The technical report on HIV sentinel surveillance plus 2021 central prison sites found that the knowledge about HIV/AIDS was much below desired levels among inmates, of which over 59 per cent were convicted and the rest were under trials.

    Describing it as a “critical gap and a priority area for future interventions”, the study conducted among 20,695 inmates lodged in 53 central jails in 26 states found that only three out of five HIV-positive were on antiretroviral (ART) drugs.

    The findings also indicated sexual activities in prison, with five out of every 100 inmates reporting its prevalence, and only three-fifths reported using condoms with their paid partners. The study found highest HIV prevalence was noted in  Mizoram (26 per cent), followed by Punjab (7.5 per cent), Nagaland (4.6 per cent) and Chandigarh (3.5 per cent).

  • HIV cases in Assam surge with 2,269 more testing positive since April 

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Since April, 2,269 people have tested positive for HIV in Assam, which is much higher than the previous two years, according to official data.

    A total of 5,57,747 samples were tested from April to October this year. Of that, 2,269 samples turned out to be positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), according to the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS).

    Among these patients were 131 pregnant women, it said.

    In 2021-22, a total of 2,366 HIV cases were detected in the state, while it was just 1,288 in 2020-21.

    ASACS Assistant Director Rajib Sarma said Assam has 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.

    “Out of this, 45 per cent of PLHIVs are female. Children living with HIV is 3 per cent,” he added.

    The total number of people alive by taking Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) is 10,765 in the state.

    “The HIV prevalence rate in India is 0.21 per cent and the same rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent,” Sarma said.

    As far as the HIV prevalence in the districts is concerned, Kamrup Metropolitan has the maximum number of cases at 7,610, followed by Cachar at 5,200 cases, Nagaon at 1,602 cases and Dibrugarh at 1,402 cases.

    “81.63 per cent is transmitted through the heterosexual route, 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, through homosexual route is 4.61 per cent, 0.85 per cent through blood and blood products, and 2.61 is not specified,” Sarma said.

    To create HIV awareness among the people, the ASACS is using the press, outdoor advertising, folk arts and social media, among others.

    GUWAHATI: Since April, 2,269 people have tested positive for HIV in Assam, which is much higher than the previous two years, according to official data.

    A total of 5,57,747 samples were tested from April to October this year. Of that, 2,269 samples turned out to be positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), according to the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS).

    Among these patients were 131 pregnant women, it said.

    In 2021-22, a total of 2,366 HIV cases were detected in the state, while it was just 1,288 in 2020-21.

    ASACS Assistant Director Rajib Sarma said Assam has 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021.

    “Out of this, 45 per cent of PLHIVs are female. Children living with HIV is 3 per cent,” he added.

    The total number of people alive by taking Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) is 10,765 in the state.

    “The HIV prevalence rate in India is 0.21 per cent and the same rate in Assam is 0.09 per cent,” Sarma said.

    As far as the HIV prevalence in the districts is concerned, Kamrup Metropolitan has the maximum number of cases at 7,610, followed by Cachar at 5,200 cases, Nagaon at 1,602 cases and Dibrugarh at 1,402 cases.

    “81.63 per cent is transmitted through the heterosexual route, 5.54 per cent is through HIV-infected syringe and needles, parent to child is 4.76 per cent, through homosexual route is 4.61 per cent, 0.85 per cent through blood and blood products, and 2.61 is not specified,” Sarma said.

    To create HIV awareness among the people, the ASACS is using the press, outdoor advertising, folk arts and social media, among others.

  • HIV is declining but India still has 24.01 lakh patients, 51000 of them are kids below 12

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: HIV infections are declining in India, but there are still an estimated 24.01 lakh patients in the country, including 51,000 children. Most of these patients are concentrated in eight states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the centre told the Rajya Sabha.

    As per the government’s HIV Estimation 2021 report, the number of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in India is 24.01 lakh, said Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar in a written reply.

    Around 45 percent (10.83 lakh) of total estimated PLHIV are women, and 2 percent — about 51,000 — are children below the age of 12 years.

    The highest number of estimated PLHIV is in Maharashtra (3.94 lakh), followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.21 lakh), Karnataka (2.76 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.78 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.63 lakh), Telangana (1.56 lakh), Bihar (1.43 lakh), and Gujarat (1.14 lakh).

    Together, these eight states account for 72 percent of the total estimated PLHIV in India, she added.

    “The HIV/AIDS disease has an overall declining trend in India. As per HIV Estimation 2021, annual new HIV infections have declined by 46 per cent in India since 2010,” she said.

    Quoting UNAIDS 2022 fact sheet, the minister said globally; that annual new HIV infections have declined by 32 per cent since 2010.

    According to the latest UNAIDS report released last week, India figures among countries which saw some of the most significant reductions in HIV infections even amidst Covid-19 and other crises. The other countries are South Africa, Nigeria and the United Republic of Tanzania.

    However, the report said that India saw an 8% decline in providing TB preventive therapy to people living with HIV in 2019 and 2020. The two other countries were South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania, which saw treatment fall by 30 per cent.

    NEW DELHI: HIV infections are declining in India, but there are still an estimated 24.01 lakh patients in the country, including 51,000 children. Most of these patients are concentrated in eight states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the centre told the Rajya Sabha.

    As per the government’s HIV Estimation 2021 report, the number of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in India is 24.01 lakh, said Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar in a written reply.

    Around 45 percent (10.83 lakh) of total estimated PLHIV are women, and 2 percent — about 51,000 — are children below the age of 12 years.

    The highest number of estimated PLHIV is in Maharashtra (3.94 lakh), followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.21 lakh), Karnataka (2.76 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.78 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.63 lakh), Telangana (1.56 lakh), Bihar (1.43 lakh), and Gujarat (1.14 lakh).

    Together, these eight states account for 72 percent of the total estimated PLHIV in India, she added.

    “The HIV/AIDS disease has an overall declining trend in India. As per HIV Estimation 2021, annual new HIV infections have declined by 46 per cent in India since 2010,” she said.

    Quoting UNAIDS 2022 fact sheet, the minister said globally; that annual new HIV infections have declined by 32 per cent since 2010.

    According to the latest UNAIDS report released last week, India figures among countries which saw some of the most significant reductions in HIV infections even amidst Covid-19 and other crises. The other countries are South Africa, Nigeria and the United Republic of Tanzania.

    However, the report said that India saw an 8% decline in providing TB preventive therapy to people living with HIV in 2019 and 2020. The two other countries were South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania, which saw treatment fall by 30 per cent.

  • ICMR to map dating apps, internet soliciting to align AIDS campaign with changing sexual behaviour

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Aids Research Institute (NARI) are assessing a shift in society’s sexual behaviour because of dating apps and soliciting on the internet to find reasons for the plateauing of decline in HIV cases.

    The HIV cases have been sliding because of a robust anti-AIDS campaign, but the last five years saw a pause in the contraction. The changing sexual habits because of the massive increase in virtual interactions could be one of the reasons.

    The ICMR, NARI and World Health Organisation (WHO) now have developed guidelines for mapping, size estimation and risk behaviour surveys among key population groups in virtual space.

    The document notes that the traditional ways of soliciting through brothels have been taken over by interactions on Whatsapp groups and dating apps. The guideline document says the virtual space brings extra benefits of anonymity and widespread accessibility.

    The guideline document said that Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in some cities in India now predominantly use mobile phones to establish a network for solicitation of sex. Men having Sex with Men (MSM) use dating apps.

    The dating apps will be identified for the mapping exercise as they have both local and global presence, and an estimation of active users will be made. It also involves obtaining a list of active users from the service providers or virtual mapping of active users.

    The survey findings will help devise a strategy for the anti-HIV campaign that has focused on conventional practices till now. Apart from the dating apps, the Whatsapp groups are also being mapped.

    A study by the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) found that pimps acted as operators who controlled phone-based sex networks. According to a DSACS estimate, there are 2500 operators, each having 30-40 sex workers. That means around 75000 to 125000 female sex workers in Delhi operate through mobile-based networks.

  • Ricky Gervais defends new Netflix ‘SuperNature’ after uproar over trans jokes

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: British actor-comedian Ricky Gervais has defended his latest Netflix special “SuperNature”, which has attracted criticism from the transgender community for a string of graphic jokes aimed at them.

    In the hour-long special, which was released on the streaming service on Wednesday, Gervais made several remarks about the community that trans activists have slammed.

    Trans rights organisation GLAAD criticised the comedian for the special which it said was full of “graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes”. Talking to UK’s The Spectator, Gervais said his jokes were not aimed at “trans folk, but trans activist ideology”.

    “I’ve always confronted dogma that oppresses people and limits freedom of expression. It was probably the most current, most talked about, taboo subject of the last couple of years. I deal in taboo subjects and have to confront the elephant in the room,” the 60-year-old actor-comedian said.

    In a separate interview with BBC One’s The One Show, Gervais said comedy is for “getting us over taboo subjects”. 

    “I think that’s what comedy is for, really – to get us through stuff, and I deal in taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place it hasn’t been before, even for a split second. Most offense comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target,” he said.

    On Wednesday, GLAAD had issued a statement, lambasting the comedian for his “anti-gay rhetoric” and spreading “inaccurate information about HIV”.

    “We watched the Ricky Gervais ‘comedy’ special on Netflix so you don’t have to. It’s full of graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes. He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric and spreads inaccurate information about HIV,” the organistion said.

    “Attention Ricky and Netflix: people living with HIV today when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot transmit HIV to others,” it added. GLAAD also criticised Netflix for giving a go-ahead to anti-LGBTQ content.

    “While Netflix is home to some groundbreaking LGBTQ shows, it refuses to enforce its own policy in comedy. The LGBTQ community and our allies have made it very clear that so-called comedians who spew hate in place of humor, and the media companies who give them a platform, will be held accountable. Meanwhile, there are PLENTY of funny LGBTQ comedians to support,” the statement concluded.

    Last year, Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special “The Closer” generated a huge backlash over remarks about the trans and LGBTQ+ communities and even sparked an employee walkout at the streaming service’s Sunset Boulevard building in Los Angeles.

  • Over 17 lakh people contracted HIV in India in last 10 years by unprotected sex: RTI reply

    HIV transmission by unprotected sex was recorded in 2.4 lakh people in 2011-12, while the number reduced to 85,268 in 2020-21.

  • On World AIDS Day, MoS health stresses on need to tackle gender inequality

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: For ensuring ‘Jan Swasthya’, it’s important to collate efforts in a strategic manner for achieving the country’s goals by leaving no one behind as desired by Sustainable Development Goals, MoS Health Bharati Pravin Pawar, who chaired the World AIDS Day celebrations here, said on Wednesday.

    The event was organised by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) at Dr BR Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, a Health Ministry statement said.

    Aligning with the theme of World AIDS Day 2021 “End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics”, Pawar emphasised on the need to focus and tackle gender inequalities, discrimination against the high-risk groups, inequalities invoice, income inequality and work on to provide social protection to the infected and affected population.

    “For ensuring ‘Jan Swasthya’, it’s important to collate our efforts in a strategic manner for achieving our goals by leaving no one behind as desired by Sustainable Development Goals,” Pawar said.

    Remembering the history of HIV, Pawar said, “As you all know, the first case of HIV in India was identified in 1986 among female sex workers in Chennai. In the same year, the Government of India established the National AIDS Committee under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    Thereafter, in 1992, the government established the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to oversee policies related to HIV and AIDS, to oversee prevention and control programmes and to implement the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).”

    Since then NACP has been implemented in India as a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, the statement said.

    “The programme has been extremely commendable and has achieved success at the world level. Friends, I am proud to share that during NACP-IV, policymakers and programme workers from over 20 countries have visited NACO and its implementation sites to learn from our programmes,” Pawar added.

    She also interacted with the students from across the country and discussed with them the activities undertaken through Red Ribbon clubs in their respective institutions and areas.

    The minister reiterated that youth bhagidari is instrumental in spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS, the statement said.

    Pawar also released various guidelines on ART Services and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis under the National AIDS Control Programme.

    National Operational Guidelines for ART Services 2021 which provide updated and detailed standard operating procedures for planning, implementing and monitoring of HIV Care Support and treatment services were released.

    Also, national guidelines on HIV care and treatment 2021 which is a reference technical document for medical officers to provide updated and revised protocols and guidance for HIV AIDS-related treatment and care, and National Technical Guidelines on pre-exposure prophylaxis were released.

    Besides, strategic information reports were released, 3rd edition of Sankalak Status of National AIDS Response.

    This is a flagship publication of NACO reporting the national and state-wise progress on various epidemiological and programmatic indicators for the year 2021 and Estimate Reports — India HIV Estimates 2020 Technical Brief and District Level HIV Estimates 2019 Technical Briefs — were released.

    Addressing the event, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan emphasised on the fact that inequalities and diseases are interlinked.

    “Reduction in inequalities give rise to access of healthcare services and access to means of economic and social livelihood, which ultimately decrease the effect of diseases. Since the start of the National AIDS Control Program we have covered a long distance,” he said.

    Over 34,000 testing centres, more than 1,900 anti-retroviral treatment centres and over 1,400 targeted interventions are currently running in the country, which impacts more than four million high-risk groups and target populations, he added.

    Alok Saxena, the additional secretary and director general of NACO, said despite COVID-19, the National AIDS response through HIV services has been phenomenal and continued uninterrupted.

    A large number of people infected with HIV are now connected to the programme and put on the most advanced, lifelong free Dolutegravir-based regimen which significantly improves the quality of life, the statement said.

    Saxena added that “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas Aur Sabka Vishwaas” has been the central theme of NACP with communities being considered equal and key to all the programme , thus ensuring last mile welfare and service delivery.

    “Awareness campaigns are being conducted by schools and red ribbon clubs constituted in colleges in order to disseminate information among adolescents and the youth. Exemplary reach was observed through the first two phases of the campaign and similar response is expected after today’s phase-III launch,” he said.

  • 119 HIV positive cases in six months in UP’s Muzaffarnagar

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: A total of 119 new cases of HIV were found in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district over the last six months from April 1 to September 30 this year, authorities said.

    Of the new cases, 78 were men, 34 women, and three transgender persons, and also include one girl and three boys, V K Johri, in-charge of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Centre at the district hospital, said on Saturday.

    No one among the cases reported this year have died so far, he said.

    According to the ART Centre, the district has seen 2,239 cases in the last seven years — an average of 319 every year — of whom 221 patients died during treatment.

  • Billy Porter reveals he was diagnosed HIV positive 14 years ago

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Actor Billy Porter has shared that he has been living with HIV for 14 years and decided to make the revelation now as he hopes to free himself from “that shame in silence”.

    The 51-year-old actor, who made history by winning an Emmy in 2019 for his role as Pray Tell, a character who is HIV-positive, on the acclaimed FX series “Pose”, said he used the part as a “surrogate” to tell his real-life story.

    “The truth is the healing. And I hope this frees me. I hope this frees me so that I can experience real, unadulterated joy, so that I can experience peace, so that I can experience intimacy, so that I can have sex without shame.

    This is for me,” Porter told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Wednesday.

    He became the first openly gay black man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys.

    “This is what HIV-positive looks like now. I survived so that I could tell the story. That’s what I’m here for. I’m the vessel, and emotionally that was sufficient — until it wasn’t. It’s time to grow up and move on because shame is destructive — and if not dealt with, it can destroy everything in its path,” the screen and stage actor added.

    He hit rock bottom in 2007, Porter said, when he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, filed for bankruptcy and then diagnosed with HIV.

    “The shame of that time compounded with the shame that had already (accumulated) in my life silenced me, and I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years,” he continued.

    As someone who grew up in the Pentecostal church with a religious family, the shame of being different grew manifold by his HIV diagnosis, Porter said.

    And that is why it was difficult for him to tell his mother, who had already been through a lot due to his queer status.

    “For a long time, everybody who needed to know, knew — except for my mother. I was trying to have a life and a career, and I wasn’t certain I could if the wrong people knew. It would just be another way for people to discriminate against me in an already discriminatory profession.”

    But during the coronavirus-induced lockdown with his husband, entrepreneur Adam Smith, in Long Island, forced the actor to confront his fears.

    “Then I woke up on the last day of (shooting) ‘Pose’; I was writing in my gratitude journal and my mama popped into my head. I was like, ‘Let me just call her,’” he said.

    His mother had an inkling that something was wrong, so he “ripped the Band-Aid off” and told her.

    “She said, ‘You’ve been carrying this around for 14 years? Don’t ever do this again. I’m your mother, I love you no matter what. And I know I didn’t understand how to do that early on, but it’s been decades now. And it’s all true. It’s my own shame,” he said.

    After telling his mother, the actor told the truth to the cast and crew of “Pose”.

    Porter said he goes to the doctor every three months.

    “I’m the healthiest I’ve been in my entire life…So it’s time to let all that go and tell a different story. There’s no more stigma — let’s be done with that. It’s time.”

    The actor currently stars in the third and final season of “Pose” and will next be seen playing a genderless Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella”, starring Camila Cabello in the title role, slated to be released on Amazon Prime in September.

    Porter is also writing a memoir and working on a documentary about his life for Netflix.

  • Chief Minister Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme boon made for rural and remote areas

    The ambitious Chief Minister’s Haat Bazar Clinic scheme was launched by the government from 02 October 2019, under which successful operation of the scheme is being conducted in 110 Haat markets of all the development blocks of Surajpur district. Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme is an ambitious scheme which has proved to be a boon for the villagers. Due to which people in rural areas started telling their problems to the doctors who came under the Chief Minister’s Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme and they are satisfied after treating the disease with medicines and counseling given by the doctor. The scheme was started in all the development blocks under Surajpur district, in which the Chief Minister’s Haat Bazaar Clinic scheme is implemented at 11 places in the development block Premnagar, 22 in Odgi, 17 in Ramanujanagar, 24 in Surajpur, 20 in Pratappur, 16 in Bhaiyathan.

    Under the Chief Minister Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme, those who could not reach the rural remote health institution or the city hospitals are given medicines and medicines after identifying the diseases of the patients. In Chief Minister Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme, after fever, malaria screening and treatment, HIV examination and positive referral to high health institution, TB screening and positive treatment of their medicines and their care, blood deficiency testing and treatment, Identification and treatment of disease, blood pressure screening and treatment and counseling of patients, diabetes screening and treatment, examination and counseling of pregnant women, vaccination of infants, eye disorder examination and treatment, diagnosis and treatment of all diseases like diarrhea cases. Is done.

    In Surajpur district, under the Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic Scheme, 2337 patients suffering from fever were tested for malaria, in which 13 patients were found to be suffering from malaria, who were treated and treated successfully. In all 110 CM Haat markets under the district, 3114 people were tested for blood deficiency, including 10 patients with blood deficiency who were referred and consulted in medicines and higher institutions. The Chief Minister examined the blood pressure of 7397 beneficiaries in the Haat markets, in which 91 blood pressure patients were successfully treated and given medicines and counseling. So far 2886 beneficiaries have been screened for diabetes.