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Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
We Can Do Better So That All People With HIV Live Healthy Normal Lifespans
Article – CNS People living with HIV must take care of ones mental health and wellbeing, adhere to HIV treatment to stay undetectable and take care of life-style related diseases and ageing-related issues. Love oneself. Stay healthy. And have a health-seeking behaviour to ensure all of us get to age with rights and remain disease-free. People living with HIV must take care of one's mental health and wellbeing, adhere to HIV treatment to stay undetectable (because when undetectable equals untransmittable, then they remain healthy and live normal and disease-free lifespans as well as ensure there is zero risk of any further HIV transmission), and take care of life-style related diseases and ageing-related issues, said Daxa Patel, co-founder of National Coalition of People living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) who has played a key role in founding of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV too. Everyone has a right to age with rights and human dignity. Never-ever missed a dose since 2007 onwards Daxa was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. Indian government's free rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy began in 2004. But her lifesaving HIV treatment began 9 years later (in 2007 onwards), as per then-eligibility criteria of the WHO and Indian government. Recognising the importance of treatment and health literacy and treatment adherence, she has never-ever missed her dose since then. Daxa advises simple ways like setting up daily mobile reminders to take every dose correctly and at the right time. Last month, Daxa had recently led the organising of a national dialogue and stakeholder consultation in India's national capital Delhi along with her colleagues like Pooja Mishra (Secretary NCPI Plus) and Manoj Pardeshi (co-founder NCPI Plus and leader of a successful social enterprise Taal+ Pharmacy) and other members of NCPI Plus. Alongside this meeting, almost 30 eligible women with HIV were also screened for breast cancer onsite (using a point-of-care thermal screening tool of Niramai Health Analytix). NCPI Plus members from across India learnt a lot from experts on human papilloma virus or HPV (a virus which causes around 95% of cervical cancers along with other health issues in all genders), India's first indigenously developed and validated molecular diagnostics for HPV (Truenat HPV-HR Plus developed by Molbio Diagnostics – announced by the Indian government in April 2025), and on ensuring how people with HIV age healthily and with rights. Daxa was speaking at a special event to mark HIV Long-Term Survivors' Awareness Day 2025 and ahead of 10th Asia Pacific AIDS and Co-Infections Conference (APACC 2025), 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (POC 2025) and 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025). Eliminate delays in rolling out scientifically approved and validated health tools According to WHO: 'People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load using any WHO-approved test and continue taking medication as prescribed, have zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).' Agrees Dr Gilada: 'Science has proven that if people with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and remain virally suppressed, then there is zero risk of any further transmission of HIV from them to anyone else. This is referred to as #UequalsU or undetectable equals untransmittable.' But, in 2023, over 1.3 million people were newly diagnosed with HIV worldwide – despite the science-backed tools to prevent HIV transmission. We can do better to save lives, says Dr Gilada. We need to bridge the deadly divide between 'what we know works' and 'what we do.' Dr Ishwar Gilada is part of the International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council, serves as President-Emeritus of AIDS Society of India (ASI – India's network of medical doctors and scientists of HIV and co-infections and co-morbidities), and CEO of Unison Medicare and Research Centre (UMRC), India. He is the longest serving HIV medical expert in India who had established India's first HIV clinic in government-run JJ Hospital when first HIV case got confirmed in the country. Government of India's National AIDS Control Programme began in 1992, seven years after a civil society group (People's Health Organisation – PHO) was consistently raising HIV awareness. There was a 9-years delay in rolling out government-run programme to prevent HIV transmission from mother to the child in 2001 despite PHO-Wadia safe motherhood model had demonstrated evidence and impact since 1992. Medicines like zidovudine was first used in rich nations over 30 years ago to reduce HIV risk of the unborn child of HIV positive parent(s) – and PHO-Wadia model had rolled these out back then in India too (though government's rollout took another 9 years to do so). Today we have far more effective treatment regimens available to ensure children are born free of HIV – and both mother and the child live healthy and normal lives. Likewise for the rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy: In private sector it began 9 years before the government's programme in India (from 7 April 2004 onwards). Rollout of Dolutegravir – one of the most promising antiretroviral medicines – began 3-4 years later in government-run programme (2020) than private sector in the country (2017). Dr Gilada says we have a long journey ahead to pay adequate attention to quality of life too while we test and treat, care and support for people with HIV. He also points out that new HIV prevention methods that are validated and approved years back have not been rolled out in the country. For example, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a HIV medicine that is for people who are HIV negative to reduce their risk of getting infected with the virus. PrEP is not part of India's HIV programme but available on online shopping websites. Likewise, HIV self-test is not yet rolled out as part of government's programme. HIV stigma has reduced but still lurks HIV stigma has reduced considerably over the last 4 decades but still lurks, says Daxa. 'Over the decades, life expectancy of people with HIV has increased due to improved efficacy of the treatment. CDC estimates that around half of all people with HIV are older than 50 years now. By 2030, 70% of all those with HIV would be over 50. With ageing comes new challenges (HIV-associated and non-HIV associated too),' said Dr Gilada. 'Sometimes I believe that people with HIV live better than non-HIV because they are always constantly under health supervision, monitoring and proactively seeking healthcare services which people who do not have HIV may not be getting.' Dr Gilada's Unison Medicare and Research Centre in Mumbai has several people living with HIV under care for over three decades. 'So, in a way we have provided paediatric to geriatric care for those with HIV.' Dr Gilada says that HIV stigma still exists but when he looks at socio-economic background of his patients under care, he often finds that those who are more educated and privileged are more likely to stigmatise and discriminate. 'We need to have a non-judgmental approach in all healthcare settings,' said Dr Gilada. Daxa shared that almost 23 years back, she was asked a whooping INR 16,000 to for pregnancy and child-birth related healthcare services. Dr Gilada calls upon all healthcare professionals including medical community to not charge extra for providing medical care to those with HIV. 'When #UequalsU and person, then where is the risk of HIV transmission?' Dr Gilada asks medical fraternity to follow the science and evidence and stop discriminating against those with HIV. Dr Gilada asks medical fraternity to think that those people who are not aware of their HIV status and seeking surgery, could be in the 'window period' or have had indulged in high HIV risk behaviours couple of days before too – so, best is to follow infection prevention and control measures universally. Dr Gilada appeals to surgeons, obstetricians and gynaecologists and other medical professionals, to not attend to people with HIV at the very last. 'Why discriminate?' He calls upon HIV community to leverage upon HIV/AIDS Act, 2017 and help end all forms of HIV related stigma and discrimination. 'But there is not a single case which has been filed under this law since 2017,' said Dr Gilada who had earlier mobilised several associations in the last 30 years to demand such a law. Dr Gilada cites a Mumbai High Court ruling according to which people living with HIV do not even have to disclose their identity (to maintain confidentiality) while seeking legal recourses for justice. We can do better! Managing HIV co-infections and co-morbidities is vital Dr Gilada reminds that along with lifesaving and effective antiretroviral therapy, healthcare workers need to regularly screen people with HIV for a range of co-infections and co-morbidities. Before beginning treatment for any other illness, drug to drug interaction needs to be considered for example. People with HIV are at a higher risk of some non-communicable diseases, such as, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and related complications, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health issues, and others. For example, Dr Gilada shared that risk of impaired glucose and insulin metabolism is double among those with HIV compared to those without the virus. TB, despite being preventable and curable, continues to be the biggest cause of deaths for people with HIV. 'No one needs to die from TB or HIV because we have science-based tools and approaches to avert these untimely deaths,' said Dr Gilada. Dr Gilada and Daxa both advocate for people with HIV to go for adult vaccinations to reduce the risk of or protect themselves from vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr Gilada points to several other concerns that must be considered while caring for people with HIV – and make all efforts to effectively address them in evidence-based and people-centred manner. For example, substance use (tobacco, alcohol, etc), genetics, menopause for women, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, poor engagement in healthcare, poverty, among others. Find your inner light: Purposeful and peaceful living is key Daxa Patel shares that we all need to care for our mental wellbeing and try to remain stress-free. Engaging with purposeful and spirited work to help others with HIV since 2002 onwards has helped her remain busy and meaningfully involved. 'It saved my life,' she said. We need to keep ourselves healthy and ensure that we do not let outside stigma and discrimination effect our sensibilities and wellbeing in any way. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
We Can Do Better So That All People With HIV Live Healthy Normal Lifespans
Love oneself. Stay healthy. And have a health-seeking behaviour to ensure all of us get to age with rights and remain disease-free. People living with HIV must take care of one's mental health and wellbeing, adhere to HIV treatment to stay undetectable (because when undetectable equals untransmittable, then they remain healthy and live normal and disease-free lifespans as well as ensure there is zero risk of any further HIV transmission), and take care of life-style related diseases and ageing-related issues, said Daxa Patel, co-founder of National Coalition of People living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) who has played a key role in founding of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV too. Everyone has a right to age with rights and human dignity. Never-ever missed a dose since 2007 onwards Daxa was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. Indian government's free rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy began in 2004. But her lifesaving HIV treatment began 9 years later (in 2007 onwards), as per then-eligibility criteria of the WHO and Indian government. Recognising the importance of treatment and health literacy and treatment adherence, she has never-ever missed her dose since then. Daxa advises simple ways like setting up daily mobile reminders to take every dose correctly and at the right time. Last month, Daxa had recently led the organising of a national dialogue and stakeholder consultation in India's national capital Delhi along with her colleagues like Pooja Mishra (Secretary NCPI Plus) and Manoj Pardeshi (co-founder NCPI Plus and leader of a successful social enterprise Taal+ Pharmacy) and other members of NCPI Plus. Alongside this meeting, almost 30 eligible women with HIV were also screened for breast cancer onsite (using a point-of-care thermal screening tool of Niramai Health Analytix). NCPI Plus members from across India learnt a lot from experts on human papilloma virus or HPV (a virus which causes around 95% of cervical cancers along with other health issues in all genders), India's first indigenously developed and validated molecular diagnostics for HPV (Truenat HPV-HR Plus developed by Molbio Diagnostics – announced by the Indian government in April 2025), and on ensuring how people with HIV age healthily and with rights. Daxa was speaking at a special event to mark HIV Long-Term Survivors' Awareness Day 2025 and ahead of 10th Asia Pacific AIDS and Co-Infections Conference (APACC 2025), 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (POC 2025) and 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025). Eliminate delays in rolling out scientifically approved and validated health tools According to WHO: 'People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load using any WHO-approved test and continue taking medication as prescribed, have zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).' Agrees Dr Gilada: 'Science has proven that if people with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and remain virally suppressed, then there is zero risk of any further transmission of HIV from them to anyone else. This is referred to as #UequalsU or undetectable equals untransmittable.' But, in 2023, over 1.3 million people were newly diagnosed with HIV worldwide – despite the science-backed tools to prevent HIV transmission. We can do better to save lives, says Dr Gilada. We need to bridge the deadly divide between 'what we know works' and 'what we do.' Dr Ishwar Gilada is part of the International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council, serves as President-Emeritus of AIDS Society of India (ASI – India's network of medical doctors and scientists of HIV and co-infections and co-morbidities), and CEO of Unison Medicare and Research Centre (UMRC), India. He is the longest serving HIV medical expert in India who had established India's first HIV clinic in government-run JJ Hospital when first HIV case got confirmed in the country. Government of India's National AIDS Control Programme began in 1992, seven years after a civil society group (People's Health Organisation – PHO) was consistently raising HIV awareness. There was a 9-years delay in rolling out government-run programme to prevent HIV transmission from mother to the child in 2001 despite PHO-Wadia safe motherhood model had demonstrated evidence and impact since 1992. Medicines like zidovudine was first used in rich nations over 30 years ago to reduce HIV risk of the unborn child of HIV positive parent(s) – and PHO-Wadia model had rolled these out back then in India too (though government's rollout took another 9 years to do so). Today we have far more effective treatment regimens available to ensure children are born free of HIV - and both mother and the child live healthy and normal lives. Likewise for the rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy: In private sector it began 9 years before the government's programme in India (from 7 April 2004 onwards). Rollout of Dolutegravir - one of the most promising antiretroviral medicines - began 3-4 years later in government-run programme (2020) than private sector in the country (2017). Dr Gilada says we have a long journey ahead to pay adequate attention to quality of life too while we test and treat, care and support for people with HIV. He also points out that new HIV prevention methods that are validated and approved years back have not been rolled out in the country. For example, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a HIV medicine that is for people who are HIV negative to reduce their risk of getting infected with the virus. PrEP is not part of India's HIV programme but available on online shopping websites. Likewise, HIV self-test is not yet rolled out as part of government's programme. HIV stigma has reduced but still lurks HIV stigma has reduced considerably over the last 4 decades but still lurks, says Daxa. 'Over the decades, life expectancy of people with HIV has increased due to improved efficacy of the treatment. CDC estimates that around half of all people with HIV are older than 50 years now. By 2030, 70% of all those with HIV would be over 50. With ageing comes new challenges (HIV-associated and non-HIV associated too),' said Dr Gilada. 'Sometimes I believe that people with HIV live better than non-HIV because they are always constantly under health supervision, monitoring and proactively seeking healthcare services which people who do not have HIV may not be getting.' Dr Gilada's Unison Medicare and Research Centre in Mumbai has several people living with HIV under care for over three decades. 'So, in a way we have provided paediatric to geriatric care for those with HIV.' Dr Gilada says that HIV stigma still exists but when he looks at socio-economic background of his patients under care, he often finds that those who are more educated and privileged are more likely to stigmatise and discriminate. 'We need to have a non-judgmental approach in all healthcare settings,' said Dr Gilada. Daxa shared that almost 23 years back, she was asked a whooping INR 16,000 to for pregnancy and child-birth related healthcare services. Dr Gilada calls upon all healthcare professionals including medical community to not charge extra for providing medical care to those with HIV. 'When #UequalsU and person, then where is the risk of HIV transmission?' Dr Gilada asks medical fraternity to follow the science and evidence and stop discriminating against those with HIV. Dr Gilada asks medical fraternity to think that those people who are not aware of their HIV status and seeking surgery, could be in the 'window period' or have had indulged in high HIV risk behaviours couple of days before too – so, best is to follow infection prevention and control measures universally. Dr Gilada appeals to surgeons, obstetricians and gynaecologists and other medical professionals, to not attend to people with HIV at the very last. "Why discriminate?" He calls upon HIV community to leverage upon HIV/AIDS Act, 2017 and help end all forms of HIV related stigma and discrimination. 'But there is not a single case which has been filed under this law since 2017,' said Dr Gilada who had earlier mobilised several associations in the last 30 years to demand such a law. Dr Gilada cites a Mumbai High Court ruling according to which people living with HIV do not even have to disclose their identity (to maintain confidentiality) while seeking legal recourses for justice. We can do better! Managing HIV co-infections and co-morbidities is vital Dr Gilada reminds that along with lifesaving and effective antiretroviral therapy, healthcare workers need to regularly screen people with HIV for a range of co-infections and co-morbidities. Before beginning treatment for any other illness, drug to drug interaction needs to be considered for example. People with HIV are at a higher risk of some non-communicable diseases, such as, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and related complications, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health issues, and others. For example, Dr Gilada shared that risk of impaired glucose and insulin metabolism is double among those with HIV compared to those without the virus. TB, despite being preventable and curable, continues to be the biggest cause of deaths for people with HIV. "No one needs to die from TB or HIV because we have science-based tools and approaches to avert these untimely deaths," said Dr Gilada. Dr Gilada and Daxa both advocate for people with HIV to go for adult vaccinations to reduce the risk of or protect themselves from vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr Gilada points to several other concerns that must be considered while caring for people with HIV – and make all efforts to effectively address them in evidence-based and people-centred manner. For example, substance use (tobacco, alcohol, etc), genetics, menopause for women, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, poor engagement in healthcare, poverty, among others. Find your inner light: Purposeful and peaceful living is key Daxa Patel shares that we all need to care for our mental wellbeing and try to remain stress-free. Engaging with purposeful and spirited work to help others with HIV since 2002 onwards has helped her remain busy and meaningfully involved. 'It saved my life,' she said. We need to keep ourselves healthy and ensure that we do not let outside stigma and discrimination effect our sensibilities and wellbeing in any way. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
India Today
24-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Affordable, made-in-India HPV test kits rolled out to fight cervical cancer
Two made-in-India HPV test kits - an essential diagnostic tool for cervical cancer - have been rolled out after successful evaluation by AIIMS Delhi results of the scientific review were announced in a meeting by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).The two evaluated HPV kits - Truenat HPV-HR Plus by Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics, and Patho Detect by Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions developed under the Department of Biotechnology, now launched into the market, mark a step forward in combating cervical cancer, the second most common type of cancer among Indian HOW THE INDIGENOUS HPV KITS WORKThe newly validated kits use a chip-based real-time PCR (RT-PCR) technique, which is known for its accuracy and kits are designed to detect eight high-risk HPV genotypes, which are responsible for over 96% of cervical cancer cases evaluation of these kits was carried out by a team of experts at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, in collaboration with National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) Noida, and National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH) Mumbai, along with support from the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). "The key feature of these kits is the inclusion of only the seven-eight most common cancer-causing types that will allow a very efficient and cost-effective screening programme which will be most suitable for India," Dr. Neerja Bhatla, former head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS, Delhi and chief coordinator of the programme, told sets these tests apart is their ability to be used as point-of-care tools, meaning they can deliver results quickly and can be used even in resource-limited or rural healthcare settings. This is particularly important in India, where access to diagnostic labs can be a major barrier."Given the enhancement of RTPCR-based diagnostic facilities across the nation in the post-COVID era, the introduction of sensitive RTPCR-based HPV testing kits might prove to be cost effective screening method over classical HPV DNA and Pap smear for deployment in the national cancer screening programme," Dr Bhatla said.A PUBLIC HEALTH THREATHPV (human papillomavirus) is a common viral infection that spreads through skin-to-skin contact, quite often via sexual contact. The virus is so common that nearly all sexually active individuals will contract it at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). While most HPV are harmless, some virus variants pose severe health problems leading to various forms of cancer, including cervical cancer is a serious public health issue in India, which accounts for nearly one in every four cervical cancer cases globally. Each year, over 1.23 lakh women are newly diagnosed, and nearly 77,000 women lose their lives to the disease. Cervical cancer is a serious public health issue in India, which accounts for nearly one in every four cervical cancercases globally. () What makes this disease more concerning is that cervical cancer is preventable. While not all cervical cancer cases are because of HPV infection, most cases are caused by the virus. Therefore, early and regular screening for HPV can help catch the disease before it becomes WHO recently recommended that all countries adopt HPV testing as the primary screening method. According to the health agency's global strategy, women should undergo two HPV tests in their lifetime, once at the age of 35 and again at target is to screen 70% of eligible women by 2030, which would drastically reduce cervical cancer deaths.'A STEP FORWARD IN PREVENTIVE CARE'Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh underlined the growing importance of preventive healthcare and India's efforts to become a global leader in this the event where the two made-in-India HPV testing kits designed for quick screening of cervical cancer were launched, Jitendra Singh said it was the right time to acknowledge India's growing success in scientific innovation, especially in the healthcare cited the development of the world's first DNA vaccine for Covid-19, which was also made in India back in 2021, as a major achievement that brought international recognition and helped shift global perceptions. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh underlined the growing importance of preventive healthcare at the launch of two made-in-India HPV testing kits. (Photo: Department of Biotechnology) "India was once seen as a country that neither focused on preventive nor curative healthcare. That perception is changing," he said, also mentioning Nafithromycin, the country's first indigenous antibiotic, and a gene therapy trial for haemophilia, the results of which were published in the New England Journal of credited these milestones to the combined efforts of public institutions and private companies, describing it as a "whole-of-science and whole-of-government" current methods of screening for cervical cancer include Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Papanicolaou test (Pap test or Pap smear) and HPV DNA testing. These tests are costly and time-consuming, and not always sensitive enough, said new HPV test kits are faster, more affordable, and suitable for use in remote Reel
