NACO has strengthened its nationwide awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS through multimedia and targeted outreach. A nationwide rollout of 1,619 projects to support high-risk populations in HIV response is also being undertaken, the minister told the Rajya Sabha.
The union minister of state for health and family welfare, Anupriya Patel stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the government is taking a number of steps for creating awareness on HIV/AIDS.
She said that the national AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has strengthened its nationwide awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS through multimedia and targeted outreach. A nationwide rollout of 1,619 projects to support high-risk populations in HIV response is also being undertaken, she said.
Patel said that these efforts are further reinforced through outdoor media such as hoardings, bus panels, information kiosks, folk performances, and IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) vans. Additionally, digital platforms and social media are actively leveraged to ensure broader engagement and awareness generation, especially among younger and tech-savvy audiences.
At the interpersonal level, the minister told the Rajya Sabha that awareness around HIV/AIDS is promoted through training and sensitization programmes targeting Self-Help Groups, Anganwadi Workers, ASHAs, members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, and other key stakeholders. These grassroots-level interventions play a vital role in fostering community-level awareness and behavioural change.
In addition, High Risk Groups including Female Sex Workers (FSW), Men having Sex with Men (MSM), People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), Hijra/Transgender (TG) individuals, truck drivers, and migrants are specifically addressed through 1,619 Targeted Intervention projects across the country. These interventions are designed to ensure equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care services for the most vulnerable populations. Through this multi-tiered communication strategy, NACO continues its commitment to eliminating stigma, expanding access to services, and ultimately achieving the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.
Patel said that a 84 per cent decline has been reported in mother-to-child HIV transmission and 74.5 per cent drop in transmission rate between 2010 and 2024, outpacing global reduction of 56.5 per cent.
Ombudsmen
The minister said that thematic campaigns have been launched to promote inclusivity and safeguard rights of people living with HIV and that ombudsmen have been appointed in 34 states and union territories to address discrimination against People Living with HIV.
She said that these efforts underscore the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of PLHIV and promoting an inclusive and supportive environment for all.
The minister also said that to prevent discrimination against People Living with HIV (PLHIV), thematic campaigns are being implemented across the country. These campaigns aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and foster inclusivity in diverse settings, including workplaces, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and communities at large.
The minister also updated the Rajya Sabha on India’s achievements in eliminating and controlling major infectious diseases. She said that the country has seen a 17.7 per cent reduction in TB incidence (from 237 to 195 per lakh) and 21.4 per cent decline in mortality (from 28 to 22 per lakh) achieved between 2015 and 2023.
The minister mentioned that there was a 78.1 per cent drop in Malaria cases and 77.6 per cent decline in deaths recorded from 2015 to 2024.
Further, kala-azar elimination target of less than 1 case per 10,000 has been achieved in 633 blocks in 54 districts ahead of 2030 SDG target; status maintained to date, she said, adding that the Case Fatality Rate (death per 100 cases) for dengue sustained below 1 per cent since 2008 (0.13 per cent in 2024).
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
Simultaneously, the union minister of state for health and family welfare, Prataprao Jadhav informed the Rajya Sabha that the construction of 17,788 sub-centres as Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness centres has been provisioned under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
The Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness centres are now know as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), the minister said.
Besides these, the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) will also undertake establishing 11,024 health and wellness centres, now (Urban-AAMs) in urban areas with a focus on slum and slum like areas are envisioned in the five years period (2021-26).
Other initiatives being undertaken by PM-ABHIM include:
- Establishment of 3,382 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) at the block level;
- Establishment of 730 District Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs) in the country, wherein each district will have one such lab; and,
- Establishing 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) in all districts with population more than 5 lakhs
Administrative approvals have been accorded to States/UTs for FY 2021-22, FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24, FY 2024-25 & FY 2025-26 for an amount of ₹33081.82 Crore for construction/strengthening of 10,609 Building less-AAMs; 5,456 Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (U-AAMs); 2,151 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs); 744 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) at District level and 621 Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs).
