The National AIDS Control Organization (under MoHFW) has been observing World AIDS Day annually on December 1 since 1992.
About Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) & AIDS:
- HIV Virus is a retrovirus that targets CD4 immune cells and weakens the immune system.
- CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in protecting the body from infection.
- A retrovirus is a virus that uses RNA as its genomic material. Upon infection with a retrovirus, a cell converts the retroviral RNA into DNA, which in turn is inserted into the DNA of the host cell.
- The cell then produces more retroviruses, which infect other cells.
- Treatment of HIV: Early testing and regular antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppress viral load and slow progression.
- Transmission: occurs through unsafe sex, shared needles, infected blood, mother-to-child routes etc.
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
HIV status in India
- Over 2.5 million people are living with HIV in India.
- At 0.20%, India's prevalence is significantly lower than the global average of 0.7%,
- Declining Trends (2010-2024): Nationally, annual new HIV infections dropped by 48.7% and AIDS-related deaths fell by 81.4%.
Steps Taken by Government
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