India Among the 10 Countries Accounting For 95% Of HIV Infections: UNAIDS

According to a recently released UN report India, China and Pakistan are among the 10 countries that accounted for more than 95 per cent of all new HIV infections in the Asia and the Pacific region in 2016.

As per the report In the Asia and the Pacific region, the majority of new infections are occurring in 10 countries led by India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietmnam, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. These 10 countries together accounted for more than 95 per cent of all new HIV infections in the region in 2016.

The number of cases are largely concentrated among key populations, including sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and transgender people.

However, the report has good news as well. The annual number of new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific has declined 13 per cent over the last six years, from 310,000 in 2010 to 270,000 in 2016. The latest UNAIDS report that was released also revealed that more than half of all People Living with HIV (PLHIV) now have access to HIV treatment.

Further, globally AIDS-related deaths have almost halved since 2005.

"We met the 2015 target of 15 million people on treatment, and we are on track to double that number to 30 million and meet the 2020 target. We will continue to scale up to reach everyone in need and honour our commitment of leaving no one behind." said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

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