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For long a neglected community, transgenders would now be the focus of a new campaign against HIV/AIDS launched by the health ministry, an official said on Thursday.
The department of AIDS control under the health ministry has designed a comprehensive care package for transgenders or hijras at risk, under the National AIDS Control Progamme (NACP).
The programme plans to reach out to transgenders through fairs which they attend, and other community development programmes.
The department of AIDS control has conducted estimation exercises in 17 states with support from UNDP-India for effective planning and strategy design of such preventive interventions.
'As the department of AIDS control develops the roadmap to scale up transgender and hijra interventions, we look forward to our continued dialogue with the transgender or Hijra community in designing the interventions,' Luv Verma, secretary in the department of AIDS control, said at a press conference here.
'We also believe that community participation is desirable to spearhead the efforts of HIV prevention and control,' he said.
The department of AIDS control was collaborating with other ministries on various initiatives for the welfare of transgenders. (Read: 11 things about HIV/AIDS you didn't know)
Considering the relatively high prevalence of HIV among transgenders, it was crucial that focused HIV interventions among them are scaled up, Verma added.
According to figures from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), India has demonstrated an overall reduction of 57 percent in the annual new HIV infections from 2,74,000 in 2000 to 1,16,000 in 2011.
What is HIV?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that destroys or impairs the function of the body's immune system making the person more susceptible to infections. Unless treated, it develops into full-blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus infects humans when it comes in contact with tissues lining the vagina, anal area, mouth and eyes, or through a break in the skin. There are two main types HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2 is typically found in Africa and parts of Asia. HIV-2 is typically found in Africa and parts of Asia. Asia can thus no longer be considered free of HIV-2, and testing for HIV-2 appears mandatory, at least in India. Worldwide, when people refer to HIV they are usually referring to HIV-1.
What is AIDS?
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) isn't a disease in itself. It is a condition in caused by HIV in which the body's immune system fails to battle foreign microorganisms. This leads to various opportunistic infections and/or certain cancers. It is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. (Read more: HIV/AIDS causes, symptoms and complications)
With inputs from IANS
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