TV
World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year to raise awareness about the disease, reflect on the progress made to date and challenges that remain to achieve the goals of ending AIDS by 2030 besides mobilising all stakeholders to jointly redouble efforts to ensure the success of the HIV response.
To mark the pivotal impact communities have had in shaping the HIV response, as well as global health at large, the theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is ‘Let communities lead’.
As far as Odisha is concerned, a total of 60,886 HIV positive patients have been detected in the state since 1988. Of these, 47390 patients have been registered under anti-retrovirus therapy (ART).
While Odisha is still under the low-privilege category as the number of patients is below 50,000, states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are among the high privilege states.
As per reports, about 3,000 to 5,000 HIV positive patients are being detected in Odisha every year. Ganjam district has the highest number of HIV positive cases. The district alone accounts for 33 per cent of the total patients in the state. It is followed by Cuttack.
While AIDS awareness campaign is primarily funded by the Central government, the Odisha State AIDS Awareness Control Committee with the help of NACO, has been conducting awareness programmes in the State since 2004.
Free blood tests are being conducted at the state government's diagnostic centres (NIDAN) and the NIRAMAY centres are providing free medicines at hospitals. In addition, patients registered with ART are being covered under various social security schemes, the OSACS authorities said.
World AIDS Day is a global movement to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Globally, an estimated 38 million people live with the virus. More than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS related illnesses over the past 40 years, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
World AIDS Day exists to shine a light on the real experiences of people living with HIV today, while celebrating the strength, resilience and diversity of the communities most affected. It is a moment to inspire the leadership needed to create a future where HIV doesn’t stand in the way of anyone’s life.
