Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel inaugurates the review meeting of the National AIDS Control Program with Project Directors of State AIDS Control Societies at Agra, UP

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel inaugurated the review meeting of the National AIDS Control Program with the Project Directors of State AIDS Control Societies today at Agra. The event was organised by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is an organization working towards preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS across the country through State AIDS Control Societies.
The two-day meeting is being organized in Agra on 24th and 25th August 2023. The meeting is aimed to be part of the Sustainable Development Goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The National AIDS and STD Control Program (NACP) is currently in its fifth phase with an aim to reduce new HIV infections as well as AIDS related mortality and also to eliminate the stigma related to HIV/AIDS in the society.

Addressing the event, Professor SP Singh Baghel accentuated the stigma faced by HIV AIDS patients. He reiterated the commitment of the government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister towards strengthening HIV/AIDS and STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) response. Some steps being implemented like National AIDS toll-free helpline, lifetime free ART services, free lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV, free adherence counseling, diagnostic and monitoring services like baseline laboratory investigations, CD4 count testing, and regular viral load monitoring for PLHIV. He also highlighted the need to reduce discrimination against the affected population. Government in this regard has notified “HIV & AIDS policy for establishments 2022”. He also focused on increasing social inclusivity and using a multisectoral approach to tackle HIV.