HIV and AIDS Control Programme in India

Introduction
 HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) weakens the immune system and can lead to AIDS
(Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
 To control HIV/AIDS, the Government of India launched the National AIDS Control
Programme (NACP) in 1992.
 Implemented by NACO (National AIDS Control Organization) under the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare.
Objectives of the Programme
 Prevent HIV transmission among the general public and high-risk groups.
 Ensure safe blood in all hospitals and clinics.
 Reduce spread of other STDs.
 Monitor and track HIV/AIDS cases with proper surveillance.
 Reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIV (people living with HIV).
 Provide care, support, and free treatment to PLHIV.
 Train health workers and involve the community in prevention activities.
 Prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Phase Year Focus/Key Features
NACP 1992– - Launched to create awareness about HIV/AIDS. - Set up HIV surveillance system. -
Phase I 1999 Ensured safe blood supply through screening.
NACP 1999– - Focused on behavior change communication. - Expanded blood safety measures.
Phase II 2006 - Started early interventions for high-risk groups (e.g., sex workers, truck drivers).
- Adopted decentralized approach with states and districts more involved. -
NACP 2007–
Strengthened prevention programs for high-risk groups. - Expanded free ART
Phase III 2012
(antiretroviral therapy) availability.
- Goal: “Three Zeros” → zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related
NACP 2012– deaths. - Integrated HIV services with other health programs. - Focus on
Phase IV 2020+ Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT). - Stronger community
participation.
Functioning
 Blood Safety: Ensure safe blood transfusions.
 Condom Promotion: Supply and encourage consistent use.
 Awareness (IEC): Education via media, NGOs, and community activities.
 Targeted Interventions (TIs): Programs for sex workers, injecting drug users, and men having
sex with men.
 Voluntary Counseling & Testing (VCT): Free and confidential testing with counseling.
 NGO Partnerships: Work with community organizations to increase reach.
Strategies
 Target high-risk groups (sex workers, IDUs, MSM).
 Ensure safe blood (screening & voluntary donation).
 Spread awareness & reduce stigma (IEC campaigns).
 Promote condom use (free & social marketing).
 Voluntary HIV testing with counseling.
 Prevent mother-to-child transmission (PPTCT).
 Provide free ART to PLHIV.
 Surveillance & monitoring of cases.
 Train healthcare staff (capacity building).
  NGO/community participation for wider reach.
Key Achievements
 50% drop in new HIV infections.
 Safe blood supply and reduced HIV spread via transfusions.
 Free ART treatment improved survival and quality of life.
 Better monitoring systems and trained healthcare staff.
 Increased awareness and reduced stigma.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD)
Introduction
 Started in 2007 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
 Aim: Reduce hearing loss, which is the most common sensory disability and affects
education, jobs, and quality of life.
Objectives
 Detect and treat hearing loss early.
 Reduce total burden of hearing problems by 25% (12th Five-Year Plan target).
 Spread awareness about prevention and treatment.
 Train health workers for ear and hearing care.
 Improve coordination between different services for rehabilitation.
Functioning
 Services at district hospitals, community centers, and PHCs.
 Screening programs in schools and communities for early detection.
 IEC/BCC activities (education campaigns) for awareness.
 Training doctors, nurses, and health staff in ear care.
 Provide audiometry services, hearing aids, and rehab support.
Strategies
 Strengthen district hospitals for ear and hearing care.
 Conduct camps in schools and villages for early detection.
 Train medical and paramedical staff.
 Work with NGOs and community leaders for awareness.
 Implement in phases, starting in pilot districts, then expand.
Outcomes
 More people getting early diagnosis and treatment for hearing problems.
 Awareness among people and health staff has increased.
 Hearing services (like audiometry and hearing aids) available in more districts.
 Gradual reduction in preventable hearing impairment.
National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB)
Introduction
 The NPCB was launched in 1976 by the Government of India, with support from the World
Health Organization (WHO).
 It was started to reduce blindness in India, as eye diseases like cataract, refractive errors, and
corneal blindness were very common.
 Later, in 2017, it was renamed NPCB & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) to include visual
impairment prevention.
Objectives
 Reduce the prevalence of blindness in India.
 Provide comprehensive eye care services at all levels.
 Increase awareness about eye health and blindness prevention.
 Strengthen training and research in eye care.
  Provide free or affordable treatment for common causes like cataract, refractive errors,
childhood blindness, corneal diseases, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy.
Functioning
 Eye care services delivered through district hospitals, medical colleges, NGOs, and private
partners.
 Cataract surgery camps and eye screening camps held regularly.
 School eye screening for children to detect refractive errors early.
 Provision of free spectacles to children from poor families.
 Eye donation and eye banking services promoted.
 Support for vision centers and ophthalmic equipment at district level.
Strategies
 Strengthen infrastructure: establish vision centers, eye banks, and upgrade hospitals.
 Human resource development: train doctors, nurses, optometrists, and health workers.
 Service delivery: free cataract operations, free spectacles, treatment for eye diseases.
 IEC activities: awareness campaigns on eye care and eye donation.
 Public-private partnership (PPP): involve NGOs and private hospitals.
Outcomes
 Blindness prevalence reduced from 1.1% in 2001–02 to 0.36% in 2019.
 Millions of free cataract surgeries performed.
 Widespread school screening programs for refractive errors.
 Strengthened eye donation movement with more functional eye banks.
 Improved availability of eye care services even in rural and remote areas.

National Pulse Polio Programme

 Polio: viral disease that destroys nerve cells in the spinal cord, causing paralysis or muscle
weakness.
 Launched in 1995 under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
 Target: children aged 0–5 years, administered oral polio drops.
 172 million children immunized during each National Immunization Day (NID).
Objectives
 Maintain vigilance & surveillance.
 Maximize awareness through communication.
Vaccines Used
1. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV):
o 3 primary doses at 6, 10, 14 weeks.
o Booster dose at 16–24 months.
2. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV):
o Additional dose with the 3rd dose of DP
Principles of Polio Elimination
 Affects only humans.
 Virus survives briefly in the environment.
 Safe, cheap, and effective vaccine available.
Strategies
 Routine immunization (0–1 year: 3 OPV doses).
 Supplementary immunization activities.
 Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP).
 House-to-house vaccination.
 Fixed pulse polio booths.
Functions
 Annual high-quality NIDs & sub-national rounds.
 Identify missing/unimmunized children.
 Environmental surveillance for poliovirus.
 House-to-house vaccination, booths in all areas.
Outcomes
 India polio-free since 2014.
 Strong vaccination & surveillance system developed.
 Improved sanitation & hygiene.
 Programme became the world’s largest public health initiative.