World AIDS Day 2024: Maharashtra focuses on addressing gaps in HIV prevention and treatment efforts | Representational Image
Mumbai: Despite significant advancements over the past decade, Maharashtra’s progress in curbing new HIV infections has slowed in recent years.
According to the Health Department, an average of 37 individuals across Maharashtra, including nine in Mumbai, were infected daily in 2023-24. Experts working in the field of HIV are calling for stronger public-private partnerships and expanded outreach efforts to tackle the persistent challenges.
Activist Ganesh Acharya emphasised the need for updated prevention measures in light of changing social behaviours. “With dating apps and online platforms becoming prevalent, prevention strategies must adapt. Self-testing kits are essential as younger generations avoid government hospitals for testing,” he said, while advocating for wider access to prophylaxis treatments.
Health officials have started working on ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, for which it needs to achieve the 95-95-95 treatment goal by 2025, which means 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their status are receiving treatment, and 95% of people on HIV treatment have a suppressed viral load so their immune system remains strong, and the likelihood of their infection being passed on is greatly reduced.
The Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) and the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) are at the forefront of initiatives to increase awareness, promote testing, and provide treatment for HIV/AIDS.
MSACS data shows that of all HIV tests conducted, 11,195 individuals (0.36%) tested positive in 2021-22. The number rose to 14,346 (0.34%) in 2022-23 and dropped slightly to 13,670 (0.31%) in 2023-24, reflecting a minimal 0.05% decline in new infections over three years.
Similarly, Mumbai saw a slight reduction, with 3,087 positive cases (0.8%) in 2021-22, increasing to 3,372 (0.7%) in 2022-23 and then declining to 3,299 (0.6%) in 2023-24 – a 0.3% decrease over three years.
According to MDACS Additional Project Director Dr Vijay Karanjkar, the city’s HIV programme has matured but needs enhanced efforts to address underserved areas. “While we have digitised services, responses remain slow. Expanding programmes to reach high-risk groups is our priority,” he said.
Unsafe sex accounted for 95% of new infections, with individuals aged 15-49 comprising 75% of cases. Women represented 31% of the newly diagnosed.
MDACS Programmes
MDACS has launched initiatives like a dating app campaign that reached nearly 800 people and a counselling programme for massage parlour workers. Their efforts are now expanding to tattoo parlours to promote safe practices.
However, Acharya criticised the approach as insufficient. “MDACS continues to test the same population, leading to stagnant results. Civil society groups estimate that 80,000 people in Mumbai are living with HIV, yet many remain outside MDACS’s reach,” he said.
Tackling lost to follow-up gaps
A significant challenge is the number of HIV patients lost to follow-up. MDACS reported 40,658 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) linked to antiretroviral therapy centres. Of these, viral load testing was conducted for 38,818, with 98% achieving viral suppression. However, 1,840 individuals (4.53%) remain unaccounted for, highlighting a critical gap in follow-up care.
As Maharashtra continues its fight against HIV, addressing these gaps and adapting to new challenges will be crucial for sustained progress.
