India’s Battle Against HIV: A Success Story in Reducing Infections and AIDS-Related Deaths

India’s Battle Against HIV: A Success Story in Reducing Infections and AIDS-Related Deaths

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• On World AIDS Day, Union Health Minister highlighted India’s achievements in combating the HIV epidemic, revealing significant declines in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. These advancements underscore India’s sustained efforts to tackle HIV through effective prevention, treatment, and awareness programs.

About Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):

• HIV is a lentivirus, a sub-classification of retrovirus, that leads to the HIV infection and, over time, progresses to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Types of HIV:

• Type One (HIV-1):This is the most common type, further categorized into four groups – Group M (Major), Group N (Non-M & Non-O), Group O (Outlier), and Group P.
• Group M is responsible for approximately 90% of HIV cases worldwide.

Type Two (HIV-2): Found primarily in Western Africa, with some cases in India and Europe, HIV-2 is further categorized into eight groups (A to H).

• It is closely related to the simian immunodeficiency virus endemic in a monkey species.
• AIDS: This is a severe condition where the immune system fails, making the affected person susceptible to life-threatening infections and cancers.
• Transmission:HIV can be transmitted through blood, breast milk, vaginal fluids, semen, or pre-ejaculate. It exists as free particles and within infected immune cells in bodily fluids.
• Survival Period: Without treatment, the average survival period for a person with HIV is nine to eleven years, depending on the subtype of HIV.
• Treatment:Antiretroviral therapy can prevent the progression of HIV to a severe form.

First-line HIV Treatment – TLD:

• Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, Lamivudine, and Dolutegravir (TLD) is a single-pill antiretroviral treatment.

About Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):

• A medical treatment involving a combination of antiretroviral drugs to manage HIV infections.
• Suppresses the replication of the HIV virus, reduces viral load, and strengthens the immune system.
• Prevent progression to AIDS and reduce HIV
• Improves the quality of life for individuals living with HIV.
• Reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
• Helps achieve viral load suppression, where HIV is undetectable in the bloodstream.
• As of 2024: 88% of identified HIV-positive individuals are on ART (as per 2023 estimates).
• Free ART Program: India offers free ART through government-supported centres under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP).
• Over 680 ART centers and 1,200 Link ART centers are operational across the country.
• Contributed to a 79% decline in AIDS-related deaths since 2010.

HIV Drug

• A twice-yearly injectable drug called lenacapavir, which has shown 100% effectiveness in a recent study against HIV infections. Developed by Gilead, this drug marks a breakthrough in HIV prevention and treatment. It is already sold under the brand name Sunlenca to treat HIV infections in the US, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. The company plans to seek authorisation soon for Sunlenca to be used for HIV prevention. However, access to the drug is limited, with generic versions intended for distribution in 120 poorer countries, mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, nearly all of Latin America is excluded from this rollout, sparking concerns over global health equity.
• Experts emphasize that lenacapavir could significantly benefit marginalized populations, including sex workers, young women, and others who may face barriers to accessing healthcare. Advocacy groups have criticized the exclusion of Latin American countries, where HIV infection rates are rising, calling for immediate action to ensure widespread availability of the drug. The article highlights the urgent need to establish equitable healthcare pathways to maximize the impact of this groundbreaking treatment.