HIV/AIDS has become a global challenge with serious implications for the future economic and social development of our society. It is estimated that, India is home to about 2.43 million people living with HIV/AIDS with a prevalence of 0.36%. Half of the entire new HIV infections world wide is among the young people aged between 15-24 years. Recent reports indicate that, 5.2 lakh people are living with HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh with a prevalence of 1.06%. It is disturbing to note that, despite of best efforts, more than 90% of the HIV infections are occurring through unprotected sex. The high prevalence of HIV is attributed to the presence of large number of Sexually Transmitted Infections, low condom usage, vast net work of high ways and more specifically large number of young girls being trafficked. If left unchecked, HIV/AIDS can adversely affect the most economically productive segment of society.

In order to address the issues of HIV/AIDS, the Governments both at the Centre and in the States are taking measures such as awareness campaigns like AASHA (AIDS Awareness Sustained Holistic Action) and Be Bold Campaigns, promotion of condom usage and targeted interventions to address the high risk groups etc., to stop the spread of HIV.

Andhra Pradesh continues to adopt a proactive approach based on the International and National experiences with a clear and multi-pronged effort for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS. Concerted efforts are made to contain the epidemic in the state by adopting a multi-sectoral and multi-pronged approach. Important programmes, Schemes, project under implementation by the department are given below:

1. Prevention of HIV infection in High-Risk Population: One of the key components of prevention intervention strategies is promoting sexual health among high-risk populations like Female Sex Workers, (FSW) Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) and Intravenous Drug Users (IDU). 58 targeted interventions for these high risk groups have been taken up through NGOs during the year 2008-09. 6 interventions for truckers were started through trucker’s associations in the state.

In addition to the interventions taken up by the Govt., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation taken up 60 projects for saturated coverage of sex workers and truckers for prevention and control of HIV among the high-risk groups. These are implemented by the foundation lead partners HLFPPT (Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust) and International HIV/AIDS Alliance. With these efforts more than 90% of the high risk group populations are covered for prevention programmes of HIV/AIDS.

2. Intensive Awareness campaigns with people’s participation: Government has taken up intensive awareness campaigns like, "AIDS Awareness Sustained and Holistic Action" (AASHA) in the year 2005 and continued in May 2006 with focus on promoting ownership of the prevention activities by the community through participation of women and youth groups. This campaign has resulted in increased awareness among the community on HIV/AIDS on modes of transmission, methods of prevention, information on services available for people living with HIV and reduction of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV. Reports from NACO indicate that with the efforts made by Govt. more than 90% of people have become aware of HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh.

3. Mass Media campaign: The campaigns through Electronic Media continued with messages on entertainment and news based channels playing the role of catalysts to trigger public opinion on different social issues leading to vulnerability in the context of HIV/AIDS. "ASANNA & ASAKKA" characters introduced in to the media campaign as brand ambassadors to carry forward the messages related to HIV/AIDS have become popular icons. A new Phone –in programme called "Mee Nestam" on FM Radio channel, on every Thursday is started which is attracting larger audience to dispel doubts on various issues of HIV/AIDS.

4. Adolescence Education Programme and Formation of Red Ribbon Clubs: Adolescence Education Programme with focus in schools/colleges was taken up to cover 9^th and 10^th class students in 15,437 schools and all the students in Junior and Degree colleges for creating awareness on HIV/AIDS. Till February 2007, around 2 million students in 13,000 schools and 3000 colleges are covered under AEP. This programme is encouraging students to adopt positive life styles required for prevention of HIV/AIDS. The programme was started in the year 2002-03 and continued every year covering all schools and colleges in the state. A topic on HIV/AIDS was incorporate HIV/AIDS in school curriculum of 9^th and 10 classes during this academic year.

5. New IEC campaigns with targeted messages were printed on 40 lakhs postcards and passbooks through the Postal Department. Red Ribbon Express, a massive IEC activity, attracted 66,000 visitors to the exhibition and more than 1,50,000 to the bus caravans and the state during 16th April to 24th May, 2008.

6. HIV/AIDS awareness for Women Self help Groups & Adolescent Girls: Capacity building of women self help groups was taken up in collaboration with Indira Kranti Patham (IKP) project of Rural Development Department and for adolescent girls in collaboration with ICDS, Women Development & Child Welfare Department. Around 31.73 lakhs women group members and 18.00 lakh adolescent girls were trained on HIV prevention.

7. STD Clinics: 85 STD Clinics were set up to reduce the vulnerability of the people to HIV by treating the STD. Equipment like microscopes, consumables and STD drugs necessary for STD clinics has been procured and supplied. Capacity building of all the medical and paramedical staff in Area Hospitals, CHCs and Primary Health Centres on Syndromic Case Management was done periodically. 100 more STD clinics will be started under Public Private Partnership during the year 2008-09. 1200 more STD clinics are planned to be started under Public Private Partnership in association with Population Services International during the year 2008-09.

8. Blood Safety: 204 licensed Blood Banks are functioning in the State. Voluntary Blood Donation is promoted through active involvement of Indian Red Cross, NSS and other voluntary organisations. As a result HIV infection through blood transfusion has come down from 4% to 0.038% in the State.

9. Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres: All the counseling and testing facilities for HIV, viz., the Voluntary Counseling & Testing, Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission & HIV/TB services were integrated as Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTC) where in all the services related to HIV counseling and testing are provided. 677 ICTCs are functioning at present. During the years 2008-09, more than 3 lakh people got tested to voluntarily to know their HIV status (April to July) and 25,500 people were found to be infected with HIV.

10. Community Care Centres: 39 Community Care Centres were established with NACO supported and 56 State Government supported Care & Support Centres were established in this year including conversion of 23 TH Wards in all Govt. Head Quarters Hospitals. Thus there are 91 Community Care Centres functioning in the state. 23 drop-in centres were also established spreading all districts of the State. Counselling services for psycho social support & palliative care and treatment for opportunistic infection and referral services are provided in these centres.

11. PLWHA Networks: District wise PLWA networks are being formed to cover all the 23 districts. They are proactively working at the district & Mandal level PLHA activities for reducing stigma, discrimination & for increasing the access of PLHA to various Care & Treatment services.

12. ART Centres: 24 ART Centres and 1 (Niloufer Hospital) as Centre of Excellence was established for providing free ARV drugs to HIV positive cases in the state. It is proposed to start 5 more ART centres during the year 2008-09 and also start 40 link ART Centres to ensure that the ART medicines are made available to the AIDS patients at their nearest place. At present More than 33,000 AIDS patients are receiving ART medicines in the state.

13. Mainstreaming efforts in APSRTC- "ABHAYA": Under mainstreaming efforts, a new programme called "Abhaya" has been started in association with Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and treatment services to the RTC employees and their families. A MoU was signed on 4^th July 2008 and 4 ICTCs were started on 15^th August 2008 at the RTC hospitals in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Kadapa and Visakhapatnam.

14. Condom Promotion: To increase the access to condom usage and promote safe sex practices intensive campaign on Condom promotion " Unda Meedaggara" has been re launched along with promotion of Female Condoms. This campaign is giving good results with more than 3 million estimated condoms to be sold during the year 2008-09 under social marketing.