According to Indian Health minister, over two million people infected with HIV/AIDS are living in India.

New Delhi, Feb 10: Over two million people infected with HIV/AIDS are living in India.

“As per surveillance data, 2.09 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in the India. At least 7,47,175 PLHIV are receiving free first line Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) and 7,224 PLHIV are receiving free second line Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART),” Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said.

He said  Technical Resources Group (TRG) has recommended providing third line antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS patients in 10 centres  across the country. “The process for the same has been initiated. Viral load testing is also available across the country in 9 testing laboratories”.

‘Steps taken to reduce risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child’

“Under the PPTCT scheme counselling and testing services are provided to all ante-natal population detection of HIV positive pregnant women, provision of free Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) prophylaxis to HIV positive pregnant women and the new born infant so as to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV from Mother to Child,” Azad said.

He said since 2001-02, a single dose of ARV prophylaxis (Nevirapine Tablet to pregnant women at the onset of labour and syrup-Nevirapine syrup to new born infant) was given to pregnant women and new born infant.

“Since January 2014 all HIV positive pregnant women would be provided triple drugs (TDF- Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, 3TC Lamivudine and Efavirenz- EFV) ARV life long, irrespective of CD4 count or WHO clinical staging.”

He said during 2012-13 out of the 7509 pregnant women detected HIV positive, 6948 (93%) were provided with single dose nevirapine prophylaxis.

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Asia News/ NationalTurk India News