Vertical HIV transmission reduced: Dr Glory Alexander

Mumbai: India has achieved a major milestone by reducing vertical transmission of HIV (from mother to child) from 25% in 2020 to 11.75% in 2023, according to Dr. Glory Alexander, the President of the AIDS Society of India (ASI); and the founder Director of Bengaluru-based ASHA Foundation.

“Before treatment was made available to prevent vertical transmission, the risk of a newborn child getting infected with HIV was in the range of 15-45% in India—the risk was almost 45% among those who breastfed. With the advent of ART and HIV prevention and treatment guidelines, vertical transmission risk has reduced considerably,” Dr. Alexander said coinciding with the 17th National Conference of the AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2026) being held in Mumbai.

“We have 27-29 million pregnancies every year in India. The Latest NACO report shows that 83% of all pregnant women were tested for HIV and 78% of all pregnant women were tested for syphilis in India. Out of an estimated 19000 pregnant women who might be living with HIV in India, over 16000 were reached by the government-run programme and linked to services – half of them were newly diagnosed with HIV,” she said.

“The Indian government has successfully reduced the rate of infant HIV diagnosis (risk of a child getting infected with HIV due to vertical transmission) to 0.71%. We need to further reduce it to zero to totally eliminate vertical transmission of HIV,” said Dr. Alexander.

“Government’s NACO serves people with HIV through 794 antiretroviral therapy centres across the country and provide free HIV treatment to 18 lakhs people with HIV. NACO also has over 700 “Suraksha Sewa Kendras” where they provide preventive services for people at risk of acquiring HIV,” said Dr. Alexander.

“HIV testing needs to be increased manifold—especially reaching out to all key populations in person-centred and science-based manner and linking those in need with appropriate services,” said Dr N Kumarasamy, Vice President of AIDS Society of India (ASI); Chief and Director, VHS-Infectious Diseases Medical Centre; Director-Chennai Antiviral Research and

Treatment (CART) Clinical Research Site, Voluntary Health Services (VHS), Chennai. “We especially need to reach and serve young key populations. HIV related intersectional stigma is a major barrier as often people do not come up for HIV testing,” he said.

Dr. Kumarasamy commended government of India for ensuring country’s HIV response remains robust and on track despite recent US funding cuts which have adversely impacted HIV services in several other low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Kumarasamy pointed out that the Government of India began viral load testing in 2018 with public-private partnership approach which is now completely replaced with all viral load tests happening in government-run laboratories. However, in some instances, turnaround time for viral load test reports can be 1-3 months. We need to consider point-of-care viral load testing and ensure reports reach the treating physician immediately so that appropriate medical management can take place.