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December 1, 2014: In 1986, Indi reported its first HIV positive case and today more than 2.1 million people are suffering from HIV infection. Currently, India ranks third highest in total number of people infected with HIV, despite its efforts in restricting its spread. The good news is that the efforts put in are showing some positive results. According to the latest report, the number of new HIV infections in India has come down by 57 percent and related deaths by 25 per cent in the last decade. (Read: HIV losing its ability to cause AIDS?)
Launching the helpline number 1097, a digital resource centre and a supply chain management system for HIV patients, Mr. Nadda said, 'It s the work of every individual to come out and fight it (HIV) out. There should be zero discrimination against people with HIV. This should be our commitment.' Stressing on the importance of 'restraint' and 'precaution', he said it was time for people to consider their lifestyle, noting that preventive health care has become important after an era when it was considered that antibiotics can 'cure everything'. (Read: World AIDS Day 2014: Why India is still struggling to get over this deadly disease)
'We should be working on two fronts. We should be aware and put special emphasis on prevention and help those living with HIV and AIDS so that they face no discrimination,' he said. Health Ministry, he said, had signed MoUs with 11 ministries for better coordination in tackling AIDS and MoUs with five more ministries are in pipeline. (Read: World AIDS Day 2014: Is it the end of AIDS yet?)
Source: PTI
Photo source: Getty images
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