New cases of HIV decreased by 57 percent in India: Union Health Minister

Addressing the India Health Summit which was organised by CII in New Delhi, the Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 18 December 2012 declared that India was witnessing a steep decline in fresh cases of HIV. The health minister announced that the fresh cases of HIV have dropped down to 57 percent.

Addressing the Summit, the heath minister also announced that there was a steep decrease in measles, mumps and rubella, infant mortality rate as well as new HIV cases by 57 percent. Also, it was declared that 2012 would be the second successive year to witness polio-free nation.

The credit for putting an end to H1N1 was given to Indian manufacturers as well as Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR) for developing the vaccines as well as testing the regents. Apart from this, it was declared that ICMR was working on 75 leads of public health importance in order to develop as well as evaluate affordable diagnostics which include test for diabetes, cancer and TB.