Maharashtra’s fight against HIV: Increased testing, declining rates
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person's immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.
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The impact of COVID was evident in reduced HIV testing. Mumbai's District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) conducted 236,392 tests in 2020-21, with a 0.9 percent positivity rate. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) tested 2,570,753 individuals during the same period, revealing a 0.37 percent positivity rate.
The fight against HIV sees a positive shift in Maharashtra as testing increases and positivity rates decline post-COVID, marking a favourable turn in the battle against the virus.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.
On the eve of World AIDS day, data showed that after the COVID period, testing increased in both Mumbai and the state, accompanied by a slight drop in the percentage of positive cases. In the fiscal year 2022-23, 455,779 lakh individuals in Mumbai underwent testing, uncovering a 0.7 percent HIV positivity rate. Simultaneously, in the state, 4,215,784 people were tested, resulting in a 0.34 percent HIV positivity rate. In the preceding fiscal year 2020-21, Mumbai had a positivity rate of 0.9 percent, while the state’s rate stood at 0.37 percent.
The impact of COVID was evident in reduced HIV testing. Mumbai’s District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) conducted 236,392 tests in 2020-21, with a 0.9 percent positivity rate. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) tested 2,570,753 individuals during the same period, revealing a 0.37 percent positivity rate.
The decrease in positivity rates showcases the effectiveness of measures taken to curb the spread of HIV, providing hope for a healthier future in the fight against the virus in Mumbai and the broader state of Maharashtra.
“In our state, there’s a concerted effort to expand testing to reach more individuals. Notably, our positivity rate is on a decline. We earnestly encourage people to take up HIV testing, ascertain their status, and actively participate in efforts to prevent the spread of this disease,” Dr Sunil Bhamre, Joint Director, MSACS.
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