Hyderabad: There are over 1.24 lakh people living with HIV in Telangana. These patients are receiving free treatment at special centres called ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) Centres.
In the year 2024-25, the Telangana State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) tested more than 19.02 lakh people for HIV. Out of these, 9,415 people tested positive.
The State Health Minister recently held a meeting to review TSACS’s work. During the meeting, officials shared updates on HIV/AIDS testing, treatment, and prevention programs. The Minister asked about the work of ART centres, availability of medicines, and support services like counselling.
Officials informed that in 13 districts alone, there are more than 5,000 HIV patients. The Minister asked that testing should be increased in all 26 districts and that people in high-risk groups should be identified. He also recommended that awareness programs be held regularly to educate the public.
The Minister said that the performance of NGOs working with TSACS should be reviewed regularly. He added that the State government is committed to controlling HIV/AIDS completely by the year 2030 and urged TSACS to continue working toward this goal.
He also reminded patients to take their medicines as prescribed and urged the public to treat HIV/AIDS patients with kindness and avoid discrimination.
The meeting was attended by TSACS Director Haimavati, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner RV Karnan, Medical Education Director Narendra Kumar, and other senior officials.
