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Govt's 'Suraksha Sankalp' Workshop Aims to Boost District-Level HIV Fight

The Ministry of Health convened the 'Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala' workshop to accelerate district-level HIV/AIDS responses, with a special focus on Haryana and Delhi. Organized by NACO, the workshop brought together program teams to address operational challenges and develop action plans for grassroots implementation. Officials highlighted progress, noting Haryana's encouraging 81:83:95 ratio toward global targets, while Delhi faces critical gaps with only 70% treatment linkage. The initiative targets 219 priority districts nationwide, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment adherence, and eliminate stigma.

Key Points: Govt Convenes Workshop to Strengthen District-Level HIV Response

  • Strengthen district HIV response
  • Focus on Haryana & Delhi gaps
  • Aim for 95:95:95 global targets
  • Expand outreach to key populations
2 min read

Govt convenes 'Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala' to accelerate district-level HIV response

Health Ministry's 'Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala' focuses on accelerating HIV/AIDS interventions in priority districts of Haryana and Delhi.

"Deliberations... are centred on strengthening programme implementation through enhanced inter-sectoral convergence, capacity building, and robust monitoring mechanisms - Official Statement"

New Delhi, March 20

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare convened the 'Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala' here to strengthen district‑level HIV/AIDS response, focusing especially on Haryana and Delhi, according to an official statement on Friday.

The workshop, organised by the National AIDS Control Organisation, brought together district program teams to present progress, share operational challenges and develop action plans to strengthen the HIV response at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in the statement.

The 'Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala' provides platform for collaborative planning between national, state, and district stakeholders to improve linkage and retention on treatment, enhance viral load suppression among people living with HIV, and expand targeted outreach among vulnerable and key populations.

"Deliberations during the workshop are centred on strengthening programme implementation through enhanced inter-sectoral convergence, capacity building, and robust monitoring mechanisms, with particular emphasis on early diagnosis, prompt initiation of treatment, sustained adherence to ART, and the elimination of stigma and discrimination," the statement noted.

Rakesh Gupta, Additional Secretary and Director General, NACO, referring to the globally endorsed '95:95:95 targets', elaborated the vision that 95 per cent of all people living with HIV are aware of their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are on sustained Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), and 95 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression - thereby substantially reducing transmission and improving health outcomes.

Haryana has achieved a ratio of approximately 81:83:95, reflecting encouraging progress, while also signalling the need for intensified efforts to improve diagnosis and treatment linkage.

Gupta noted that Delhi continues to face critical gaps, with only around 70 percent of identified individuals currently linked to or receiving treatment, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate treatment coverage and retention.

He underscored that AIDS continues to pose a significant public health challenge, necessitating sustained vigilance, innovation, and coordinated action across all tiers of governance.

The ministry informed that 219 districts across the country have been identified as priority districts for intensified interventions, of which 11 are in Haryana and seven in Delhi.

Delhi currently records an adult HIV prevalence of 0.33 per cent, with an estimated 59,079 people living with HIV, while Haryana has an adult HIV prevalence of 0.24 per cent, with an estimated 59,642 people living with HIV.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but workshops often remain just talk. Need to see actual on-ground implementation and budget allocation. Delhi's numbers are worrying - 70% linkage is too low. The action plans from this karyashala must be time-bound and publicly tracked.
A
Aman W
The 95:95:95 target is ambitious but necessary. Haryana's 81:83:95 shows we can do it with focus. The key is "sustained adherence" - we need community support systems so people don't drop out of treatment due to stigma or logistics.
S
Sarah B
Collaborative planning between national, state, and district levels is crucial. Often, policies made at the top don't consider local challenges. Hope this workshop genuinely listens to the district teams about their operational issues.
K
Karthik V
As someone from Delhi, it's concerning that we have such a large estimated population living with HIV but low treatment linkage. We need more awareness camps in colleges and workplaces, and easier access to testing without judgment.
N
Nisha Z
The focus on "elimination of stigma and discrimination" is the most important part. All the medical treatment in the world won't help if people are too afraid to get tested or seek care. We need to change mindsets in our society.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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