Maharashtra, December 1, 2023 – Recent data released by the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) has revealed a staggering 33% increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during the 2022-2023 period, raising significant concerns among health authorities and activists. The state recorded 1 lakh STI cases, a notable surge from 75,713 cases in the previous year and 76,038 cases in 2020-2021.
Activists point to a prolonged lack of free condoms and testing kits, with some NGOs reporting a scarcity of these essential resources for over seven months. In certain areas, NGOs have gone without condoms for more than a year, exacerbating the problem and contributing to the rise in STI cases.
Immediate action is being called for by activists, who argue that the unavailability of crucial resources has directly contributed to the increase in new STI cases. Emphasizing the importance of safe sexual practices, data from Mumbai indicates that 3% of infections are transmitted from an infected mother to her child, while 96% result from unsafe sex.
An official from MSACS highlighted that individuals with sexually transmitted infections are five to ten times more likely to contract and spread HIV. However, he acknowledged that the normalization of testing services post-pandemic could be a contributing factor to the rise in cases. Prior to the pandemic, Maharashtra had recorded 1.1 lakh cases in 2020-21 and 1 lakh cases in 2018-19.
Expressing further concerns, an NGO member pointed out severe shortages of condoms, testing kits, and medications in some areas of the national AIDS program. Many NGOs have reported going more than five months without receiving essential funding.
The member also voiced apprehensions regarding the Center’s 2030 target to end the AIDS epidemic, calling for achieving the 95-95-95 targets by 2025, which entails ensuring that 95% of HIV-positive individuals are aware of their status, 95% are receiving treatment, and 95% have suppressed viral loads.
