The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to begin the fourth phase of National Aids Control programme (NACP -4) to contain further spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
With the successful completion of third phase of National Aids Control programme in the state, the Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society (APSACS) is fast gearing up to embark on the fourth phase of NACP to further reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
During the past few years, the initiatives taken up by APSACS to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state are commendable. Speaking on the occasion of World AIDS Day, at Lalitakala Toranam in Hyderabad, Ajay Sawhney, principal secretary, Department of Health said, “Awareness is the most important component in annulling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the society. APSACS has been in the forefront in taking up innovative strategies to bring awareness in the rural areas and has initiated various activities not only to prevent the spread of AIDS but has also taken up programmes to help HIV infected patients mitigate their sufferings and build confidence in them to lead a normal life.”
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) 340 lakh people across the globe are suffering with AIDS, out of which India constitutes 21 lakh people who are infected with this dreaded life threatening disease. Andhra Pradesh has about five lakh people infected with this disease. But initiatives taken up by the state government have shown a dip in number of fresh cases from 0.90 per cent in 2009 to 0.75 per cent in 2011. In spite of this dip in statistics the state continues to have higher case load when compared to other states in the country. About 30,000 minors are reported to have been infected with HIV/AIDS in the state. Over the years, the efforts of APSACS have yielded the good results in controlling the HIV incidence among High Risk Groups in the state. Services like Link ART (anti-retroviral therapy) centres, ICTC (integrated counselling and testing centres)/ PPTCT (prevention of parent to child transmission) and targeted interventions were scaled up in order to reach the various target groups and create more awareness about the dangers of the deadly virus.
Official sources informed that with the implementation of NACP-4, the government is planning to embark up on various awareness programmes like mobile testing labs, sexually transmitted infections control through suraksha clinics, awareness on HIV in tribal areas and increased awareness in rural and urban areas through hoardings, displays on buses, radio and TV programmes and through events and exhibitions. With all this, the state government is aiming to achieve its main objective of Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths.