In a remarkable public health achievement, Andhra Pradesh has been declared the country's top-performing state in controlling new HIV infections, marking a decade of significant progress in combating the epidemic. State Health Minister Y Satyakumar Yadav made this announcement on Sunday, highlighting the state's exceptional performance across all key indicators of the National AIDS Control Programme.
Dramatic Decline in HIV Positivity and Deaths
According to official data released by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a spectacular transformation in its HIV landscape. The HIV positivity rate plummeted from 2.34% in 2015–16 to just 0.58% in 2024–25, representing one of the most significant improvements nationwide. Minister Yadav attributed this success to sustained awareness campaigns, promotion of safe sex practices, and comprehensive free treatment facilities available across the state.
The most striking achievement comes in the reduction of AIDS-related deaths, which saw an astonishing 88.72% decline by 2024–25 compared to 2010 levels. This dramatic decrease underscores the effectiveness of the state's treatment and care programs for those living with HIV.
Progress in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission
Andhra Pradesh has made particularly impressive strides in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a critical indicator of effective public health intervention. Among pregnant women, the HIV positivity rate dropped from 0.10% in 2015–16 to 0.04% in 2024–25, marking a major victory in protecting future generations from the virus.
The state has also consistently reduced new HIV infections year after year. From 24,957 new cases in 2015–16 and 21,982 in 2018–19, the number dropped significantly to 13,383 in 2024–25. Despite ranking second in overall HIV burden with 2.75 lakh cases (next only to Maharashtra's 3.62 lakh), officials emphasized that Andhra Pradesh has successfully curbed the rise of fresh infections through targeted interventions.
Progress Toward Global Targets and Patient Support
The Health Minister noted that Andhra Pradesh has been making steady progress toward the UN AIDS 95–95–95 global targets. According to Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society Project Director Neelakantha Reddy, the state has achieved 86% in identifying people living with HIV and placing them on treatment, outperforming the national average of 81%.
In other key metrics, Andhra Pradesh achieved 95% in viral load suppression (compared to the national average of 97%) and 87% in medicine coverage (against the national average of 88%). These impressive numbers earned the state second place nationally in NACO's 2024–25 performance scorecard, demonstrating comprehensive progress across all major HIV control programs.
The state government's commitment to supporting HIV-affected individuals is evident in both medical and social support systems. Approximately 2.38 lakh patients receive free medicines monthly through 59 ART centres across the state, with the government spending between Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per patient monthly (Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 annually). Additionally, 42,008 HIV-affected persons are receiving government pensions, with several other applications under verification.
Officials highlighted that patients adhering to regular treatment are leading healthy and productive lives. In a testament to the program's long-term success, the first HIV case reported in Andhra Pradesh in Guntur back in 2004 continues to live a healthy life with uninterrupted medication.
Looking forward, the government is operating 13 'Sampoorna Suraksha' centres as a pilot project through NACO to closely monitor high-risk individuals. These centres specifically cater to people who initially test HIV-negative but exhibit high-risk behavior, representing a proactive approach to preventing new infections.
