AIDS Society of India calls for measures to achieve zero infections

While India has made laudable progress in its fight against AIDS, the time has come for it to take this further, both in terms of providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and in leading global efforts towards self-financing and sustainable solutions, a press release from the AIDS Society of India, a professional body of physicians and researchers in HIV care, said.

The United Nations estimates that 40.8 million persons are living with HIV globally. Of these, 25,44,000 are in India. In 2024 India reported 68,450 new infections.

Today, with the availability of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART), persons living with HIV, who have access to these medications do not fall sick with AIDS and research has shown that the life expectancy of those receiving ART and are virology suppressed is almost similar to those without HIV.

New anti-viral medicine

While there are no vaccines to prevent HIV infection, with lenacapavir, a new, long-acting injectable anti-viral medicine, HIV can now be prevented if given twice a year as pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

However, India is yet to implement (PrEP), and this is a gap that needs rectification in order to achieve zero new infections. It quotes Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, as saying: “The HIV response has already saved 26.9 million lives worldwide. With an HIV prevention revolution, we could end AIDS as a public health threat, saving many more lives.”

With regard to funding, the withdrawal of the United States, disrupted treatment and prevention programmes around the world in early 2025.

In India, 95% of funding for HIV treatment and prevention is through the government. India can help lead global efforts for low and middle-income countries to take ownership of, and support HIV prevention and treatment efforts through nationally-owned and led, sustainable, inclusive and multisectoral solutions, the release, issued by N. Kumarasamy, Vice President-AIDS Society of India, said.