Tag Archives: #ASICON

#AIDS:IndianStatistics

Health & Fitness, , , , , ,

It is believed that around 1920, a deadly virus crossed species from chimpanzees to humans in Kinshasa (Africa), and led to the beginning of an era full of illness, fear, and discrimination. The deadly virus was called human immune-deficiency virus or HIV. Over decades, the virus slowly spread to other parts of the world, and a large number of people became infected. Depressed immunity, huge number of infections, and high mortality rates were observed. In 1982, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used the term acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) for the first time. AIDS was defined as “a disease at least moderately predictive of a defect in cell mediated immunity, occurring in a person with no known case for diminished resistance to that disease.” Soon, the disease became an epidemic and engulfed the whole world.

As per UNAIDS, the number of people living with HIV increased from 9 million in 1990 to 36.9 million in 2014. AIDS-related deaths also increased drastically from 320,000 in 1990 to 2 million in 2004-05. However, this led to emergence of global actions for management of AIDS and with more people receiving treatment, improvements could be seen. As a result, the number of deaths has been estimated to decrease to 1.2 million in 2014.

WHERE DOES INDIA STAND?

Globally, 15 countries account for nearly 75% of the people living with HIV, with the top 3 countries being South Africa (18%), Nigeria (9%), and India (6%). Being a densely populated country with a large number of people under poverty line, living in unhygienic conditions, or lacking awareness, AIDS is a major health concern in India. By 2013, 2.1 million people were estimated to be living with HIV in India. Out of this, there were approximately 140,000 children aged 0 to 14; 750,000 women aged 15 and above; and 1.9 million adults aged 15 years and above. The prevalence rate in adults was noted to be 0.3.

Let’s look at the regional variations: The distribution of HIV is heterogeneous throughout the country. As per National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), the highest prevalence has been noted in Nagaland (0.88%), followed by Mizoram (0.68%), Manipur (0.64%), Andhra Pradesh (0.59%), Karnataka (0.53%). Chhattisgarh (0.51%), Gujarat (0.50%), Maharashtra (0.40%), Delhi (0.40%), Punjab (0.37%), Bihar (0.33%), Rajasthan (0.32%), and Odisha (0.31%).

Who all are affected?

In India, female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender, and people who inject drugs have been identified as the core high-risk groups. They are at high risk of HIV infection and play a significant role in the HIV transmission to general population through sexual networks. Besides them, truck drivers and migrant workers can transmit infection as they have mobile working jobs and are more likely to come in contact with the high-risk groups like female sex workers.

Population National prevalence in 2011
Female sex workers 2.8%
Men who have sex with men 4.43%
Transgender 8.82%
People who inject drugs 7.14%
Migrant workers 0.99%
Truck drivers 2.59%
Source: NACO Annual Report, 2014

The sad part: Unfortunately, 64% of these people living with HIV were found to have no access to the treatment in 2013. This led to approximately 130,000 AIDS-related deaths in India, which accounts for 8% of the AIDS-related deaths in the world and 51% in Asia.

Looking at the brighter side: Even though AIDS is a major concern in India, the number of people living with AIDS has decreased from 2.4 million in 2005 to 2.1 million in 2013. Also, the estimated number of new infections has decreased from 160,000 in 2009 to 130,000 in 2013 (19% decline). A 38% decline has been noted in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 (210,000 deaths) and 2013 (130,000 deaths). Overall, the epidemic is slowing down in India.

And the credit goes to: Various prevention and treatment interventions launched by Government of India under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) have played an important role in fighting with AIDS. Its main objective has been to reduce new infections and provide care, support, and treatment to people with HIV or those who are in need. The number of centers providing antiretroviral (ART) treatment has increased from 25 in 2005 to 425 in 2014, and the number of patients receiving first-line ART has increased from 6,845 in 2005 to 768,000 in 2014. HIV counseling and testing services have also scaled-up in India: from 4,567 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres in 2007-08 to 15,606 in 2013-14. Resources allocation through states has also increased from Rs. 733.04 crores in 2008-09 to Rs. 931.00 crores in 2013-14.

The road ahead: Although improvements have been seen, it is a long way ahead to attain an AIDS-free country. Fast-track targets have been established to secure ZERO new infections, ZERO discrimination, and ZERO AIDS-related deaths in the future. The global consensus is to aim for 90-90-90 by 2020, i.e. 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their status receive treatment, and 90% of people on HIV treatment have a suppressed viral load so that their immune system remains strong and they are no longer infectious.

By 2020 90-90-90 treatment, ZERO discrimination
By 2030 95-95-95 treatment, ZERO discrimination

Let’s just hope that the occurrence of AIDS keeps on dipping, and we attain ZERO infections!

Sources: NACO and UNAIDS

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions as a socially responsible company spreads the word and awareness and looks forward to collaboration or associations with other agencies/companies with similar goals and aspirations. We have a skilled and competent team of medical writers, clinicians, researchers and biostatisticians. Our clients include major pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and healthcare professionals. Our experience has been in supporting publications, creating regulatory documents, conducting observational studies, designing and creating for print and digital marketing as well as customizing sessions on medical writing. 

#WorldAIDSday- Getting to Zero

Awareness Day/Month, , , , , ,

World AIDS Day, 1 Dec was first declared by the World Health Organization and the United Nations General Assembly in 1988. Since then, it has progressively become one of the most successful ‘international days’ for raising awareness on a global issue.  Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who are infected with the HIV virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

The day is marked by activities to unite people in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. Each year this day is observed with a different theme that focuses on diverse but significant dimension of AIDS. For year 2015, the theme is, “The Time to Act Is Now,” which calls us to act with urgency to implement the latest high-impact, evidence-based HIV prevention strategies.

Where do we stand?

In spite of years of sincere efforts by global healthcare organizations to generate awareness about AIDS, each year thousands of people are diagnosed with HIV. The possible reason for high incidence of AIDS could be that the people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others and stigma and discrimination for people living with the condition. World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show support to and solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV.

World fights AIDS

As a science-based public health and disease prevention agency, centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) provides support that helps more than 60 countries including India strengthen their national HIV/AIDS programs and build sustainable public health systems. CDC conducts these activities through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Recent scientific breakthroughs now point the way to achieving an AIDS-free generation, a goal championed by President Obama in his 2013 State of the Union address. CDC, through PEPFAR, is working to achieve that inspiring goal through proven science, smart investments, and shared responsibility with partner countries. Global efforts have resulted in approximately 13.5 million persons in low-income and middle-income countries receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection in 2014, an increase from 2013. Globally, more than 15 million people are on ART.

CDC’s core activities focus on:

  • Providing proven combination prevention interventions, including prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, antiretroviral treatment, and voluntary medical male circumcision.
  • Reaching orphans and vulnerable children, as well as other neglected and hard-to-reach populations.
  • Building and enhancing health systems, including sustainable human resources for health (e.g., health care workers) and accurate, reliable laboratory systems.

India fights AIDS

Conducting outreach and communication campaigns through the Act against AIDS initiative, including the campaign Let’s Stop HIV Together, which fights stigma and seeks to ensure that all the people should know the facts about HIV.

  • Let’s Stop HIV Together includes many personal stories about living with HIV.
  • Providing training in HIV prevention and treatment.
  • Pleased to join our partners to take unified action to prevent the spread of HIV.
  • Providing funding and technical assistance for health departments.
  • Conducting surveillance and behavioural research.
  • Developing guidelines for HIV treatment, surveillance, and laboratory procedures.
  • Evaluating programs.

As an active member of healthcare industry, each one of us should take it as our moral responsibility to assist the healthcare organizations, NGOs, and social activists of our region in spreading awareness about AIDS. Theme “The Time to Act is Now,” says that everyone in the world should actively participate in teaching and guiding about HIV/AIDS to other fellow members.

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions as a socially responsible company spreads the word and awareness and looks forward to collaboration or associations with other agencies/companies with similar goals and aspirations. We have a skilled and competent team of medical writers, clinicians, researchers and biostatisticians. Our clients include major pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and healthcare professionals. Our experience has been in supporting publications, creating regulatory documents, conducting observational studies, designing and creating for print and digital marketing as well as customizing sessions on medical writing.