WHO to Govt: Give us AIDS toll count first

In what seemed to be positive news, only 28,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS in the country were cited in 2004, compared to 5.2 lakh new cases in 2003. But experts said the figures cannot be compared. ‘‘You can compare when you know all other figures,’’ said del Prado. ‘‘You have to have the figures for number of deaths to make a comparison,’’ he added. ‘‘It is about time we have these figures in the country.’’

UNAIDS and WHO insist that the ‘‘new infections are 28,000 plus the number of deaths due to the disease’’. In a communique issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the two organisations have reinterpreted the HIV data released on May 25.

The communique clarifies that last year’s figure of 5.134 million people living with HIV/AIDS cannot be compared with the estimates of the previous year, when the figure was 5.1 million, as the methodology used to arrive at the estimates has changed.

‘‘Although we stand by the 5.134 million figure given by the Government, there are reports which have quoted 95 per cent disease in the number of new cases. We want to make it clear that though AIDS cases in India are reducing, there is no drastic decrease,’’ said Dr. Salim Habayeb, WHO representative to India.

The Government agrees. ‘‘There are no estimates for the number of deaths due to HIV in the country. The numbers with us are not proper. But the Government is not doing the sentinel surveillance to see whether there is an increase or decrease, as numbers in HIV are not important. The surveillance is done for better programme management,’’ said P.K. Hota, Secretary Health.

WHO and UNAIDS have maintained that HIV prevalence continues to increase in India. ‘‘ There are major inter-state and inter-district disparities. The figure of 0.92 per cent prevalence in the adult population is a national average and some districts have more than 4 per cent of the adults infected,’’ the joint statement says.