New AIDS figures show low prevalence (India)

Source: http://www.ndtv.com

Mohuya Chaudhuri
Thursday, July 5, 2007 (New Delhi)

After several disputed surveys about India's HIV/AIDS figures, an official survey by the National Aids Control Organisation makes clear that India is not sitting on an AIDS time bomb.
The new figures, which will be released on Friday, say that India has 2.5 million HIV positive people, and not 5.7 million people as believed earlier.Last estimates by NACO, collected from samples taken from high-risk groups like sex workers and STD clinics, had put the figure at 5.7 million in the 15 to 49 age group.But questions arose about the accuracy of those numbers when the third National Family Health Survey, a population based study, showed that the number could actually be around three million people.

The study, however, did not include high-risk groups like sex workers, truckers or migrant labourers as they don't live in households.''There are two surveys that were done by the NFHS and second by an expert committee - WHO Geneva, CDC Atlanta, UNAIDS and NACO. They compiled data of sentinel sites; they say prevalence point is 0.9 to 0.4,'' said Dr Anbumani Ramadoss Union Min for Health & Family Welfare.

While the numbers controversy may be behind them, the government needs to now strengthen its response to the disease and tackle the widespread problem of discrimination and stigma.The recent cases of HIV positive children being kept of school and a father made to deliver his baby as his wife was HIV positive show how tough the task is.But for the moment, the government can afford to celebrate. Finally they have a method that assesses the progress of HIV AIDS more accurately.