Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

‘Only 33 per cent get ART’

VISAKHAPATNAM: Senior physician Kutikuppala Sruya Rao on Sunday said it was a gigantic task to extend anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to all those suffering from HIV/AIDS.Addressing a press conference here on the eve of World AIDS Day, Dr. Rao, who was decorated with Padmasri last year for social work, said the target for universal access to ART to all those suffering from HIV/AIDS by 2010 was a big challenge.

As of now, only 33 per cent were getting the anti-retroviral drugs in India.

He said at the VCTCs set up at referral government hospitals, 10 to 12 per cent were being diagnosed HIV positive and 25 per cent suffering from sexually transmitted infections. As per National AIDS Control Organisation, he said five to 10 lakh had acquired the infection in the State.Stating that significant progress had been achieved since World AIDS Day observation began in 1988, he said reports compiled by UNAIDS and its co-sponsoring UN agencies showed that at least 33 million people in the world were living with HIV and everyday 7,500 new infections were being added.

He said treatment was accessed by at least three million people whose quality of life had improved substantially after taking anti-retroviral drugs. He expressed concern at incidence among homosexuals. He called for developing better anti-retroviral drugs.

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