1 December 2019, New Delhi: At an event organized organised by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) on World AIDS Day, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “While we have travelled a long distance in our fight against AIDS and HIV, there are still some significant milestones that need to be achieved for making the country free of HIV AIDS by 2030, such as the lingering pockets of stigma and discrimination against those who have or have had AIDS.” The Health Minister further commended the immense contribution made by partner organizations in spreading awareness about the disease, to dispel misinformation, fear and apprehensions, and helped people to access testing and treating services of NACO.
Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India, in his address stated that, “India has made significant progress in reversing the HIV epidemic. This success is due to effective governance and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National AIDS Control Organization. However, the fight is not over yet. The need of the hour is to identify and reduce the incidence of new cases. It is important to know key populations, as they hold the key to reducing the burden of HIV AIDS.”
“We must adopt community-based HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care as a core strategy, because expanding the role of communities and community-based healthcare will help meet global HIV and UHC targets,” Dr Bekedam further added.
The World AIDS Day theme this year — Communities make the difference — reiterates the role of communities in ending the HIV epidemic. It also draws global attention to the need for broader community engagement in strengthening primary health care and universal health coverage.
The event also saw the launch of the NACO Mobile Application, information education and communication (IEC) materials, Calendar-2020 and Comprehensive Module for Private Practitioners on Management of HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV (PLHIV) shared their experience of having survived the disease and the support they have received from NACO, and other support organisations for overcoming the stigma. The Red Ribbon Clubs of 20 states were felicitated for their efforts in mobilizing the youth and communities across the country.
Among the dignitaries present at the event were Dr Arun Kumar Panda, Secretary (MSME) and Secretary (in-charge), Health and Family Welfare, Mr Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (NACO), Mr Alok Saxena, Joint Secretary (NACO), Dr Bilali Camara, Country Director, UNAIDS, and more than 1200 participants including PLHIV, development partners, civil society organizations, students, mediapersons, experts and officials from the central and state governments under one platform to reaffirm the commitment towards ending AIDS.