New HIV cases down by half in 10 yrs

[MAITRI]

New HIV cases down by half in 10 years
By Sanchita Sharma, Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 24 November 2010

INDIA'S DONE WELL BECAUSE HIGH-PREVA- LENCE STATES HAVE CUT DOWN NEW
INFECTIONS DRAMATICALLY

New HIV infection that causes AIDS has halved in India over the past
decade, reported the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) Global Report released on Tuesday.

The UNAIDS report uses newly-generated data that factors in the change
in methodology that led India to slashing its HIV estimates from 5.7
million in 2005 to 2.5 million in 2006. “With 2.6 million new
infections worldwide in 2009, the report records the reversal of the
AIDS epidemic for the first time since it peaked with 3.1 million new
infections in 1999-2000,“ said Charles Gilks, UNAIDS country
coordinator, India.

“The report has used the same methodology to go back and recalculate
country estimates for the past decade. New data from 183 countries
shows that infection has fallen by 20% in the last 10 years, AIDS-
related deaths are down by 20% in the last five years, and the total
number of people living with HIV has stabilised,“ said Gilks.

“India's done well because high-prevalence states such as Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have cut down new infection
dramatically, and Nagaland and Manipur are showing progress,“ said K
Chandramouli, secretary and director general, National AIDS Control
Organisation.

India is among 11 countries that report more than 75% condom use for
high-risk sex.

New infections have fallen steadily since 2002, prevalence among
adults falling from 45 to 31 per thousand. However, 2009 showed a
marginal increase in India over 2008, going up to 23.95 lakh from 22.7
lakh.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/50-c-drop-in-HIV-cases-in-India-in-10-years-says-UN-report/Article1-630094.aspx