Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh has seen a decline in HIV/AIDS positivity in 2023-24 compared to the previous year, reflecting the state health authorities' sustained efforts through various programmes aimed at controlling the disease's spread.
In 2023-24, HIV/AIDS positivity stood at 0.7 per cent, with 14,047 out of 18.03 lakh individuals tested returning positive. In contrast, in 2022-23, 15,536 out of 18.71 lakh people tested positive, showing a positivity rate of 0.8 per cent. Similarly, the positivity rate among ante-natal cases (pregnant women) decreased, with 498 out of 11.82 lakh women tested returning positive, a rate of 0.04 per cent. In the previous year, 564 out of 12.13 lakh women tested positive, with a rate of 0.05 per cent.
The number of individuals suffering from both HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis has also reduced, from 4,142 in 2022-23 to 3,781 in 2023-24.
Currently, around 2.2 lakh HIV/AIDS patients in the state are receiving antiretroviral therapy, including 95,308 men, 1,18,332 women, 759 transgenders, and 4,206 children (414 male and 3,792 female), according to the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
