New HIV infections declining by 37% between 2010 and 2019: Minister

As per the latest HIV estimates report (2019) of the Government, India is estimated to have around 23.49 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in 2019.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on September 21.

He said, "The HIV epidemic has an overall decreasing trend in country with estimated annual New HIV infections declining by 37% between 2010 and 2019."

HIV infection in India is mainly caused by engagement in high-risk behaviours. The main high-risk behaviours identified for HIV infection in India include unprotected heterosexual behaviour, unprotected homosexual behaviour, and unsafe injecting drug use behaviour.

Choubey informed that there are no dedicated hospitals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

"However, under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) of the Government, as on July 2020, there are 570 Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) Centers and 1264 Link ART Centers," He said.

Choubey also gave state/UT-wise details of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2018 and 2019 as per the latest HIV estimates report (2019).