The annual new HIV infections in India have declined by more than fifty per cent during the last decade. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that many new initiatives have been taken to control HIV AIDS cases in the country during the last two years. Talking to media in New Delhi he said due to govenments efforts, India continues to be a low prevalence country in regard to Adult HIV prevalence, which is only 0.31 per cent.

AIR correspondent talked to National Programme Officer of Anti Retroviral Treatment -ART, Dr. B B Rewari. He said the costly Second Line Anti Retroviral Treatment is being made available to all those who need it. Earlier, it was available to people living Below Poverty Line and women only.

Dr. Rewari said with launch of National Early Infant Diagnosis Programme, it has now become possible to closely monitor HIV exposed infants and children below 18 months of age.

AIR correspondent adds that with an estimated 23 lakh 90 thousand persons living with HIV, government has a great challenge to maintain its low prevalence in the country.