Decline in number of HIV positive cases: Government

NEW DELHI: The number of HIV positive cases reported annually in the country has declined by 57 per cent to 1.16 lakh in 2011 as compared to 2.74 lakh in 2000, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, in a written reply to a question, told Lok Sabha that "according to the assessment of performance of various schemes for prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients done by the government under National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), the HIV prevalence at national level has declined from 0.41 per cent in 2001 through 0.35 per cent in 2006 to 0.27 per cent in 2011".

The minister said there has been no cut in the budgetary provision for NACP.

"There has been no cut in the funds for NACP. The budgetary estimates for 2015-16 is Rs 1,397 crore as against revised estimates of Rs 1,300 crore for the year 2014-15," he said.

Speaking on financial assistance to the dependants of patients died of HIV/AIDS, Nadda said the government provides financial assistance as part of the general social security network.

"Widows of people who die due to HIV/AIDS are linked to the existing Widow Pension Scheme in states. Additionally, financial assistance is provided to children who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS in states of Delhi, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra," he said.