India HIV data: Joint Communique: MoHFW, WHO and UNAIDS

[Guest guest]

This communiqué is issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare, WHO and UNAIDS.

INTERPRETATION OF INDIA HIV DATA RELEASED ON 25 MAY 2005.

1. The figure of 5.134 million people living with HIV in 2004 has

been produced by a methodology and statistical calculation based on

serological tests performed in sentinel sites all over India.

Comparisons with the estimates of previous years are difficult as

methodologies have evolved. The estimations are produced for the

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by the Institute of Research

in Medical Statistics and the National Institute of Health and

Family Welfare using a methodology supported by WHO and UNAIDS, and

monitored by an independent Expert Group. The prevalence figures are

vetted by WHO and UNAIDS.

2. HIV prevalence continues to increase in India. There are major

inter-state and inter-district disparities. The figure of 0.92%

prevalence in the adult population is a national average and some

districts have more than 4% of the adults infected.

3. In the states where results have been achieved to slow down the

progress of HIV, it is through hard work supported by the

government, civil society and development partners. Hence,

prevention and control efforts need to be scaled up to prevent

further spread of HIV, and notably to address focal epidemics that

continue to drive HIV growth in the country.

4. Some recent press reports have inadequately interpreted the

number of " new infections " in India. The total of new infections is

more than the difference between the estimated prevalence of 2003

and 2004 as it should also include AIDS related deaths. Hence, the

number of actual new infections is 28,000 plus the number of deaths

due to AIDS.

Contact :

Mr. PK Hota, Secretary Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Dr. Salim Habayeb, WHO Representative to India, WHO

Dr. Denis Broun, Country Coordinator, UNAIDS India

http://www.unaids.org.in/displaymore.asp?

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