World AIDS Day 2024

• 02 Dec 2024

Source: PIB 

World AIDS Day, observed on 1st December every year, serves as a platform to raise awareness about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), reflect on the progress made, and highlight ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease. 

• 2024 Theme: “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”. 
• AIDS: It is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by HIV, which attacks the immune system, targeting CD4 cells (white blood cells, vital for the immune system). It spreads through unprotected sex, infected blood, and sharing needles. 
  • While there is no cure, antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress the virus and help restore CD4 cells. 
• Global and National Progress: The Global AIDS Update 2023 highlights a decline in new infections, aiming to eliminate AIDS by 2030. In India, over 2.5 million people live with HIV, with a 44% reduction in new infections since 2010.  
• India’s Response to the HIV/AIDS:  
  • NACP Phase-V (2021-2026): Phase-V aims to reduce new infections and AIDS deaths by 80% (baseline: 2010), eliminate vertical transmission, and combat HIV-related stigma." 
    • The National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP), launched in 1992, has been implemented in five phases (Phase I-IV: 1992-2017).

Read more: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update