Press release

Announcement of reduced HIV caseload in India must not lead to reduced political will, says ActionAid 

New Delhi, 8 July 2007: Anti-poverty agency ActionAid says that reports of a reduced HIV/AIDS caseload in India is welcome news but lower figures must not translate into reduced political will and resources to tackle the epidemic.

Though India has dropped from first to third in the lead of HIV statistics according to government of India research released last week, the problems remain as grim as ever for people already infected and living with HIV and AIDS, say campaigners.

"The fact remains that large numbers of young men, women and children in India are dying due to lack of access to medicines, care and support, and because of stigma and discrimination," said Ramesh Venkatraman, ActionAid's Asia Co-ordinator on HIV and AIDS. 

"The government and NGOs spent many years convincing the person on the street that HIV can happen to anyone", added Venkatraman. "There is a big potential now for the public to increasingly deny HIV as a problem." 

The government's National AIDS Control Programme III (2007-2012) announced a budget of Rs. 11,585 crore (US$ 2.8 million) on Friday towards AIDS prevention, care, support and treatment. Of the total outlay a little over 75% is towards prevention measures.

While prevention measures are crucial, healthcare must also be readily available to halt millions of needless deaths caused by AIDS, says ActionAid. 

"Healthcare is a fundamental right and evidence shows that where there is good access to treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS, even prevention initiatives are far more successful," says Christy Abraham who leads ActionAid's HIV/AIDS work in India.

”Prejudice against people living with HIV/AIDS at health care centres is still a major barrier to effective treatment. The government's admitted thrust on prevention amongst truckers, sex workers and intra-venous drug users will have a danger of increasing stigma,” added Venkataraman.

Campaigners also point to the need for training of medical staff.

"The urgent need for counselling and guidance in hospitals was tragically highlighted by the recent suicide of a man at a hospital in Bangalore when he was told that he was HIV positive, and by cases highlighted in the media recently of medical professionals turning away pregnant women rather than providing the information and medicine to help prevent HIV transmission to her children," said Abraham. 

Women and girls are the fastest growing group of people living with HIV and AIDS. 90% of HIV positive children are infected due to failure to prevent mother-to-child transmission. 

"Biologically, women are more susceptible to HIV but gender inequality and lack of information are amplifying the HIV threat they face. In rural India less than half of women have heard of AIDS and children remain a missing face in the HIV response" said Abraham.

"They are the ones who will be at greatest risk if there is any slide in commitment to tackle the epidemic," she added. 

ActionAid and campaigners around the world are calling on governments act on their commitment to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010.

ENDS