World AIDS Day

AIDS is a pandemic disease caused by the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which damages the human immune system.
It is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition.
By damaging immune system, HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight infection and disease.
The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids.
AIDS symptoms include weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue and recurrent infections.
No cure exists for AIDS.
Strict adherence to antiretroviral regimens (ARVs) can slow the disease’s progress and prevent secondary infections and complications.

Initiatives by India

India’s unique HIV prevention model is centered around the concept of ‘Social Contracting’ through which the ‘Targeted Interventions Program’ is implemented.
The HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017, provides a legal and enabling framework to safeguard the human rights of infected and affected populations.
India is providing free anti-retro-viral treatment to close to 1.4 million people.

Project Sunrise: Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2016) to tackle the rising HIV prevalence in north-eastern states
The Red Ribbon: Wearing a ribbon is a way to raise awareness on and during the run up to World AIDS Day.
90-90-90: 90% of those who are HIV positive in India know their status, 90% of those who know their status are on treatment and 90% of those who are on treatment experience effective viral load suppression.
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM): It is designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics.

National AIDS Control Program

Launched by: The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) launched in 1992-1999.
NACO is a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
India is gradually transitioning the people living with HIV to Dolutegravir (a safer and efficacious anti-retro-viral medication regimen).