Estimates of 5.1 million HIV positive people bring India closer to the South African HIV infected population of 5.3 million people

New HIV/AIDS figures have been released by the Indian government's National Aids Control Organisation. In 2003 there were 520,000 new cases of HIV infection.

This is 85% of the 2002 figure of 610,000 new infections. Estimates of 5.1 million HIV positive people bring India closer to the South African HIV infected population of 5.3 million people.

India is one of the few countries that initiated HIV-prevention activities in the very early stages of the epidemic and the country has maintained its commitment to prevention efforts. The government is a Federal Republic with 35 states and union territories. The Indian Prime Minister announced in August 2001 that the government would attach topmost priority to HIV as a national issue. However, due to the vast size of the country, there are many challenges involved in expanding the high-level commitment to all states and to the grass-roots level, involving ministries other than health, and scaling up interventions to meet the projected needs for prevention and care.

Indian demographics reveal a life expectancy of 63 years, a fertility rate of 3.1% & a literacy rate of 65% (75.85% for males, 54.16% for females).

Despite a strong intervention strategy, the number of infections is still on increase in the high prevalence States due to inadequate coverage of high risk population. Some States still have low HIV prevalence but they are vulnerable because of migration patterns.

The Indian Prime Minister announced HIV as the greatest public health issue in 1999, and again in August 2001. Prime Minister himself reviews the programme with the Chief Ministers (state-level) and convened India Business Council meeting.