World AIDS Day hammers the message that HIV has not gone away. This year’s theme, “Know Your Status,” marks the 30th anniversary of the commemorative day. It reminds us that there is still a long way to go—from raising money and increasing awareness to fighting prejudice and improving accessible healthcare. There are still a lot more people living with HIV and are not aware about their status. We need to ensure that they receive quality care and treatment.
Despite advances in treatment and legal protection to people living with HIV, about 88,000 people were diagnosed with HIV last year in India. The good news is that new infections and HIV-related deaths are declining. An estimated 2,100,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in India (as per 2017 UNAIDS data)—about 80 percent have been diagnosed. HIV requires testing to contain its spread and to expand treatment. Unfortunately, myriad factors such as stigma, guilt, discrimination, fear and lack of awareness deter people from taking an HIV test.
Spreading the message
HIV testing in totality can be realized in real time with more investment and innovative approaches. Already, self-testing, community-based testing and multi-disease testing help in identifying affected persons. Although India may miss the target of reducing the new HIV infection rate by 2020, we have a more difficult task ahead: ensuring quality care and services to the patients.
Removal of all barriers to accessing HIV testing is one thing and ensuring that the persons with HIV lead productive lives is another. It is in the latter that we seem to be faltering more. The legal framework is there, rights have been enshrined, and recommendations have been made, but voices of the HIV patients are rarely heard.
It is time that HIV persons come out and open up about their plight, given the worldwide debate on sexual choices and rights hogging the limelight. It is the only way forward to spread the message of testing for good health. It is time that we take a stand against HIV-related stigma and discrimination; and while going about it, we should take the step to know our status.