Tackling AIDS & The Way Forward
Despite being a country with low HIV prevalence, India has the third largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which weakens the immune system of an individual. HIV attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers. Thus, the epidemic of AIDS constitutes one of the most formidable challenges to the development and social progress of the nation.
HIV has been found in saliva, tears, nervous system tissue and spinal fluid, blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid, which is the liquid that comes out before ejaculation), vaginal fluid, and breast milk. However, only blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk has been shown to transmit infection to others.
The HIV Estimates 2008-09 put the figure of people infected with HIV/AIDS at an estimated 23.9 lakh with an adult prevalence of 0.31 per cent. Most infections occur through heterosexual transmission. However, in certain regions, injecting drug use, men who have sex with men and single male migrants are contributing for the spread of HIV epidemic. The heterogeneous spread of the HIV epidemic is evident from the fact some pockets show high prevalence than the others.
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