Communicable disease

[Virtual Presenter] Good morning everyone, today we are discussing the HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India, and how they interact with one another. The report focuses on how major tropical diseases, such as malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis, are connected with HIV in India. We will also be looking at the implications this has on the spread of HIV and other communicable diseases, and what can be done to prevent it. Let's begin..

[Audio] The HIV epidemic in India is a significant public health issue and a cause for concern. People living in poverty are particularly susceptible to neglected tropical diseases, and the presence of these infections may increase both the viral load of HIV and the risk of transmission. Moreover, the economic impact of HIV is huge, as it leads to loss of productivity, higher labour costs, and the costs of preventive and treatment policies. The average HIV case results in 14.5 lost years of life, highlighting the need for urgent action to address this epidemic. Part of this response should be focused on controlling neglected tropical diseases, which can reduce the burden of HIV..

[Audio] The interplay between HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India is significant and poses a major public health problem. The poorest communities in Asia, Africa and America are especially vulnerable to communicable diseases, and in India, neglected tropical diseases are a major concern. The implications of these diseases become especially concerning when HIV infection is present, as it can alter the course of tropical diseases and increase the risk of transmission to non-infected individuals. It is evident the interplay between HIV and tropical diseases poses various implications on public health, and diagnosis, treatment and prevention of communicable diseases in India must be taken into consideration moving forward..

[Audio] HIV is an increasingly serious health concern in India, with approximately 2.4 million people living with the virus and 69,808 new cases reported per year. The states with the highest prevalence of HIV are Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur, and other states with a prevalence above the national average include Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Approximately 69.22 thousand new infections were reported in 2019, with 190 new infections every day and 8 hourly. Figure 1.2 shows that districts with increased prevalence of HIV are concentrated in North-east and South India. To be able to control and mitigate the spread of the virus, it is important to understand the relationship between HIV and major tropical diseases..

[Audio] India is the second most populous nation in the world, and its population is projected to continue rising in the coming years. In 2023, the population growth rate is estimated to be 0.86%, placing it 118th in the world. Most of the population is concentrated in cities and rural areas, with a population density of 2,973,190 people per square km. Factors such as tropical diseases and HIV infection in India might cause fluctuations in these figures..

Risk Factors. Risk factors Transmitted to child birth Sexual Risk factors Additional Risk factors Anal sex HIV viral load Sexually transmitted infections Multiple partners Life threatening opportunistic infections: AIDS Injecting drug use Cancer Other tropical infections.

[Audio] Focusing on the interplay between HIV Infection and major tropical diseases in India, HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that attacks the immune system, eventually leading to AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS. However, many individuals diagnosed with HIV remain in a non-progressed, asymptomatic state for extended periods of time. Exposure to tropical diseases can increase the prevalence of HIV in these areas, making treatment more complicated due to the presence of pathogens and a lack of resources. Environmental factors, host defence responses, and variations in characteristics of the virus also affect the interplay between HIV infection and major tropical diseases. Figure 1.6 illustrates the different causes of HIV, according to Sabina and Lundgrenb's research in 2013..

[Audio] The HIV/AIDS epidemic in India is an immense tragedy. The virus renders the immune system weak, making individuals more vulnerable to other tropical diseases. This has a devastating and far-reaching impact, particularly in India, where health care systems are inadequate, poverty is high, and other factors contribute to an increased prevalence of tropical diseases. HIV/AIDS is a devastating and destructive force that is not only claiming lives, but compromising the health of the entire nation. It is essential that we take effective action to battle this virus..

[Audio] We will examine the epidemiologic triad of HIV and how it interacts with major tropical diseases, concentrating on topics specific to India. These include host genetics, reproductive infections, male circumcision, menstruation and pregnancy, antiretroviral therapy, phenotypic and genotypic differences, antiretroviral resistance levels of drugs, and the various HIV subtypes A, B, C, D, and E..

[Audio] Various social factors have an impact on major tropical diseases and HIV infection in India, as indicated by Bhagavathula et. al. 2021. These social factors comprise of stigma, isolation, false perceptions, discriminations, co-morbidity of other diseases, pervasive public behaviour, societal taboos, inequties, geographic concentrated disadvantage, wide variations in knowledge, misconceptions, and differences in attitude. To better understand these factors, a closer look is required..

[Audio] HIV infection imposes a tremendous economic strain on India, resulting in 44.4 years of lost years per case. This cost, in terms of direct and indirect expenditure, affects households and the nation as a whole. Families are struck with increased expenditure on care and treatment, loss of income, and premature death; in addition, non-infected individuals may have to spend time to care for an infected individual, decreasing the amount of worktime available. At the national level, the economic strain of HIV can worsen the effects of other tropical diseases, reduce savings, and reduce potential employment due to stigma. This can lead to a decrease in tourism, transportation, industry, and GDP per capita, which, in turn, can cause an increase in mortality and morbidity rate..

[Audio] Government of India has implemented a range of initiatives to combat the spread of HIV and other tropical diseases. NACO takes the lead in this mission, collaborating with its primary stakeholders, with the Link Worker Scheme, Harm Reduction Program and Opioid Substitution Therapy at the core of its initiatives. With the Collaborative Model, NACO looks to achieve holistic prevention of HIV infection and gives special attention to high-risk migrants. The HIV Program has outlined primary interventions for female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender and intravenous drug users, relying on targeted strategies to promote behavioural changes, offer counselling and testing, and manage Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Syringe programs are also implemented to protect all critical populations, while reducing discrimination and stigma associated with HIV. Such interventions form part of India's efforts to contain the spread of HIV-related diseases..

[Audio] HIV and tropical diseases have emerged as a major challenge in India. This slide reviews the management of HIV on a global level. The World Health Organization has created guidelines to facilitate the use of antiretroviral drugs, prevention, treatment, and care for those infected with HIV. These guidelines emphasize protecting the gender and human rights of those with the virus, preventing discrimination, and respecting the informed consent of infected individuals. To effectively combat these diseases and reduce the burden on India, governments, international organizations, and individuals must join forces..

[Audio] An effective strategy needs to be devised to combat the HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. Combination prevention, which includes behavioral, biomedical and structural strategies, is the suggested approach to address the multiple needs of the population at risk. Supporting these prevention programs are behavioral theories, which have been proven to reduce the risk of infection and health behavior patterns. Gilbert proposed in 2012 that such behavioral theories can significantly lower the risk of HIV infections and major tropical diseases..

[Audio] Despite an expedited effort to implement an HIV program in India, there are numerous discrepancies and health concerns that must be addressed. Certain districts and states have been exposed to a mature epidemic while others experience a combination of both low and high amounts of new and existing infections. In areas of low case load yet increasing infections, the lack of a well-developed public health infrastructure makes the situation worse. To effectively manage the program, one should utilize advisory bodies of projects and evaluate crucial responses, such as antiretroviral therapy, testing, care, HIV, and social protection schemes. This will guarantee the success of an HIV program in India..

[Audio] India has made notable progress against HIV and major tropical diseases, yet more work is needed to address the issue. Creating an AIDS-free India requires ambitious goals such as zero infection, deaths and discrimination as well as implementation of evidence-based and cost-effective strategies. This report outlines the current state of HIV and major tropical diseases in India, and proposes strategic priorities for HIV testing..

[Audio] An increase in HIV testing, especially in areas with lower screening rates, is necessary in order to identify HIV infections and improve diagnosis. In addition, a graded approach to testing which aims to recognize HIV infection more quickly and efficiently is also important. To gain a comprehensive grasp of HIV infection in India, it is necessary to consider the connection between HIV and key tropical diseases. With the correct approach and strategy, we can bolster our knowledge and come up with a more powerful way to address this issue..

[Audio] In India, HIV infection and major tropical diseases have a complex interplay, particularly among the high risk groups such as female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, injecting drug users, truckers, and migrants. The National AIDS Control Council has implemented targeted interventions for these groups, resulting in higher testing and positive testing rates and increased condom distribution. This indicates that targeting the high risk groups is effective in reducing the prevalence of HIV and other tropical diseases in India..

[Audio] Without greetings, without beginning with Today, and without thanks: This slide talks about the critical analysis of proposed strategies for the HIV targeted intervention program, with a particular focus on the issue of funding. This report evaluates the current HIV situation in India, and reviews the strategies proposed to manage it. Challenges the programme is encountering, including discrimination, stigma and access to testing, are present, but the major one is funding. It influences the budget both from domestic sources and external donors and any change in policy has a major financial implication due to the big number of HIV positive individuals in India. To reach the global vision of AIDS by 2023, domestic policies must be aligned with the global target. These are the main areas this slide focuses on..

[Audio] This report reviews the relationship between HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. The concurrent rise of both HIV and other tropical diseases has resulted in an increased burden of health and financial costs throughout the country. The report’s recommendations to address this issue include strong political dedication, improved tracking and access to budgets, and a comprehensive annual action plan. Furthermore, the report calls for the promotion of counselling services to provide vital care and long-term support to those affected by either HIV or tropical diseases. Improved access to information and resources can help India take the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases..

[Audio] This slide emphasizes the limitations of this report. Despite the abundance of data from India that span different states, limited access to published journal records and lack of congruent data from the different states should be taken into consideration when discussing or assessing this report..

[Audio] This report has demonstrated that the intersection of HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India is becoming more and more ubiquitous, particularly in regions with a high incidence of HIV. Combination preventative measures are being implemented with the objective of attending to the individual and various requirements of those susceptible to infection. Nevertheless, there remain considerable difficulties to be overcome, including prejudice and access to assessments..

[Audio] This report examines the significant role of HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. The spread of HIV has impacted the prevalence of tropical diseases in the population. As the number of HIV-positive cases has grown, the transmission of tropical diseases has also risen, causing extra suffering and mortality in India. Combining data from various sources, this report has pinpointed some of the major aspects influencing the spread of HIV and the appearance of tropical diseases in India. Both HIV and tropical diseases are serious public health concerns and demand effective collaborative strategies for control and prevention..

[Audio] Slide is discussing the HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. It references numerous sources such as Pandav et al., Smith et al., Tanwar et al., UNFPA and WHO which thoroughly examine the issue. Analysis indicates the requirement for additional action to expand public health initiatives to tackle the rising pressures of HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. This in turn can lessen the mortality and morbidity of these illnesses and enhance the overall quality of life of people in India..

[Audio] I'd like to thank everyone for listening to my presentation about the HIV infection and major tropical diseases in India. Our findings have highlighted the subtle yet complex interactions between the two, and I sincerely hope that this knowledge will be beneficial for furthering public health efforts in India. Thank you..