Combating HIV/AIDS: Progress, challenges, and hope on world AIDS day

VISHAKHAPATNAM: On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the theme for the year as "Let communities lead," emphasizing the need to empower communities to combat the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

One significant breakthrough in 2023 is the promotion of U=U, meaning Undetectable virus equals untransmittable virus, marking a crucial advancement in HIV prevention.

According to Dr. Kutikuppala Surya Rao, an international member of the AIDS Society, fear remains a major obstacle in tackling the disease. He highlighted the importance of facing the issue head-on and discussed recent medical advances, including the promising stem cell therapy.

Rao emphasised that addressing transmission routes, such as unsafe sexual practices and the use of infected needles in tattoos, is crucial in the fight against HIV. Deaths attributed to HIV/AIDS are often a result of opportunistic infections such as oral candidacies, brain TB, strokes, heart attacks, and blindness, he said.

Moreover, the integration of mRNA technology, notable from COVID vaccine development, offers optimism for eradicating HIV. Early intervention within 72 hours of exposure, along with PEP, can potentially turn a person HIV negative.

Another breakthrough, Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy, presents a ray of hope for individuals in the last stage of the disease, potentially extending their lifespan to 75 years.

According to official figures from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NCO), India is grappling with around 2.2 million HIV cases, with 65,000 new infections reported every year. Some areas show a decline in case numbers, while certain regions face higher prevalence rates:

People living with HIV in various regions of Visakhapatnam area: Anandapuram (202), Bheemili (363), Gajuwaka (1884), Padmanabham (88), Pedagantyada (372), Pendurthi (740), Visakhapatnam-Rural (806), and Visakhapatnam-Urban (5224), totaling 9679 cases.

HIV prevalence trends in different districts of Andhra Pradesh range from 1.17 in Prakasam to 0.08 in Vizianagaram, averaging around 4 lakh of cases, placing AP the fourth in the country for HIV cases.

While Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lead in the number of cases, AP is among the top states battling the HIV/AIDS crisis.

As the world marks World AIDS Day, it is evident that progress has been made, but challenges persist.