AP Gets First Rank in Prevention of HIV/AIDS

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh ranked first in the country in HIV/AIDS prevention and provision of healthcare to infected patients between April and September this month.

K. Neelakanta Reddy, project coordinator of the state AIDS control society, said on Thursday that the ranking was given by the National Aids Control Organisation.

The semi-annual report published by NACO stated that the functioning of AIDS control societies across the country was analyzed based on 33 parameters and APSACS was found to be performing well in 25 of them.

APSACS has been successful in identifying high-risk groups such as truck drivers and sex workers, enrolling them for medical treatment and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. The association recorded cases, tested pregnant women for HIV and syphilis, provided treatment, and took steps to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

State reference laboratories and viral load laboratories have accreditation from NABL.

Considering HIV positivity cases, the prevalence rate in 2015 was 2.34 percent; As of October 2025, it dropped to 0.58 percent. The death rate among infected patients also dropped. This rate was reported as 88.72 percent in 2010.

AP also ranked first in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav congratulated the healthcare workers and staff for being at the forefront in the country in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing appropriate healthcare.

Yadav said Andhra Pradesh got 105 points out of 138 points through 33 parameters set by NACO. “AP ranked second in the quarterly report from April to June. After that, both health officials and other employees worked intensively and achieved first place in the evaluation from April to September,” he said.