National AIDS and STDs Control Programme  

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Context: The Union Cabinet approves continuation of National AIDS and STD Control Programme.

Details

• The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the continuation of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (Phase-V) from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2026.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India with an outlay of Rs 15471.94 crore.

About AIDS

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the body's ability to fight infection and disease.
• HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. Without medication, it may take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
• There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can dramatically slow the progression of the disease.
• The main factors which have contributed to India's large HIV-infected population are extensive labour migration and low literacy levels in certain rural areas resulting in a lack of awareness and in gender disparities. The Government of India has also raised concerns about the role of intravenous drug use and prostitution in spreading AIDS.
• In India, populations which are at a higher risk of HIV are female sex workers, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and transgender.

About National AIDS and STDs Control Programme

• The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), launched in 1992, is being implemented as a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India.
• In 1992, the Government launched the 1st Phase of “National AIDS Control Programme (NACPI)” with its commitment to combat the disease.
  • Phase 1 was implemented with an objective of slowing down the spread of HIV infections so as to reduce morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS in the country. The
  • The National AIDS Control Board (NACB) was constituted and an autonomous National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) was set up to implement the project.
  • The first phase focused on awareness generation, setting up surveillance systems for monitoring HIV epidemic, measures to ensure access to safe blood and preventive services for high risk group populations.
• In 1999, the 2nd Phase of “National AIDS Control Project (NACP II)” was launched with World Bank credit support.
  • The objectives of NACP II: to reduce the spread of HIV infection in India, and to increase India’s capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis.
  • Adoption of National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy (2002).
  • Adoption of National Blood Policy.
  • Launched National Adolescent Education Programme (NAEP).
  • Launched National Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) programme.
  • Setting up of the National Council on AIDS, chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • Setting up of State AIDS Control Societies in all states.
• The 3rd phase of the national programme (NACPIII) was launched in 2007
  • NACP-III aimed at halting and reversing the HIV epidemic in India over its five-year period by scaling up prevention efforts among High Risk Groups (HRG) and General Population and integrating them with Care, Support & Treatment services.
  • Prevention and Care, Support & Treatment (CST) form the two key pillars of all the AIDS control efforts in India.
  • Strategic Information Management and Institutional Strengthening activities provide the required technical, managerial and administrative support for implementing the core activities under NACP-III at national, state and district levels.
  • A dedicated North-East regional Office has been established for focused attention to the North Eastern states.
• In 2012, 4th Phase of National AIDS Control Project (NACP IV)” was launched.
  • It aims to reduce new infections by 50% (2007 Baseline of NACP III).
  • Provide comprehensive care and support to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and treatment services for all those who require it.
  • Intensifying and consolidating prevention services, with a focus on HIgh Risk Groups (HRGs) and vulnerable populations.
  • Building capacities at national, state, district and facility levels.
  • Strengthening Strategic Information Management System.
  • Prevention of Parent to Child transmission.
  • Building capacities of NGO and civil society partners especially in states with emerging epidemics.
  • Targeted Interventions for High Risk Groups and Bridge Population (Female Sex Workers (FSW), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Transgender, Injecting Drug Users (IDU), and Truckers & Migrants).
  • Free First line & second line Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) through ART centres.
  • Early Infant Diagnosis for HIV exposed infants and children below 18 months.

Present Status

• The National AIDS response under NACP is globally considered to be an extremely successful programme.
• Annual new HIV infections in India have declined by 48% against the global average of 31% and annual AIDS-related deaths have declined by 82% against the global average of 42% (the baseline year of 2010).
• As a result, the HIV prevalence in India continues to be low with an adult HIV prevalence of 0.22%.

Phase-V of National AIDS Control Project (NACP V)  

• It will take the national AIDS and STD response towards the attainment of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3.3 of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 through a comprehensive package of prevention, detection and treatment services.
• Around 8 crores of people will be covered annually with a tailored package of prevention-detection-treatment services.
• More than 99.5% of the adult population will be kept HIV free.
• Around 27 crore HIV tests will be undertaken, including around 14 crore among pregnant women, in five years of NACP Phase-V.
• Twenty-one lakh HIV infected people will be on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) by the end of the project period.
• Around 80 lakh viral load tests will be conducted among on-ART HIV infected people to monitor the effectiveness of treatment towards the attainment of viral load suppression.

Way Forward

• The Programme will offer free HIV Prevention, detection and treatment services in facility and community settings to high-risk, vulnerable and other ‘at-risk’ populations and PLHIV without any stigma and discrimination promoting equity and inclusiveness.
• The Programme includes community system strengthening through formal and informal engagement with an emphasis on the decentralised model of district-level programme monitoring and community feedback loop.
• The Programme will continue special attention to most at-risk populations, youth, and pregnant women offering a comprehensive package of services.
• The community will be engaged in the design, concurrent appraisal and feedback to the project for providing strategic guidance and mid-course corrections.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/nod-to-continue-aids-control-measures/article65247481.ece