HIV and AIDS are the subjects that are not normally covered on this blog. However, recent findings compel me to share it with my readers. India has long been known to have highest number of HIV cases in the world. When I came to know about this back in early 2000, I was actually surprised, However, with the kind on population India has, 5 million estimated HIV positive people does not look very big (4 out of every 1000).
In last 4-5 years we have come a long way and it is commendable on part of our normally conservative government and NGO’s to spread the AIDS awareness aggressively. Kudos to them !
In initial impressions of the survey, funded partly by an US organization and World Health Organization (WHO), showed some very encouraging signs on the number of Indian infected with AIDS/ HIV. Infact, the survey which is due to come out in July says that the figure of 5 million cases is distorted by more than 45%. The actual number may be somewhere around 3 million or even lesser.
The new data by the population-based study, called the National Family Health Survey, which took blood samples of 102,000 people from across the country, showed India had fewer cases than thought.
The earlier methodology used for collection of this data was faulty based on the findings of the US based organizations. Indian Government is spending around 10 Billion rupees ($238 million) to fight AIDs in the country.
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