Approximately 2 - 3.5 million people in South Asia are living with HIV and AIDS. In India alone more than 1.75 - 3.15 million people are estimated to be living with HIV and AIDS. In June 2007, this figure has been revised by the India’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) from the previous estimated figure of 5.7 million.
The new 2006 estimates indicate that national adult HIV prevalence in India is approximately 0.36%. Although overall prevalence remains low, even relatively small increases in HIV infection rates in a country of more than one billion people could translate into large numbers of people becoming infected.
In other countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, HIV prevalence is low among the general population but significantly higher among those who engage in high-risk behaviors, such as injecting drugs with contaminated needles and engaging in the selling and buying of sex.
Analysis on the Revised HIV Estimates in South Asia
Mariam Claeson, Program Coordinator for South Asia HIV/AIDS, talks about recently revised HIV/AIDS estimates in India. Listen to the interview below:
 Mariam Claeson, Program Coordinator for South Asia HIV/AIDS | - - India's HIV estimates were revised recently. Why and why such a big difference? (1:41s) mp3
- - What does this new data tell us? (1:08s) mp3
- - Given the significant change in the numbers, how valid are the HIV estimates for the other South Asian countries? (1:12s) mp3
- - How does the revised estimates affect World Bank's role in India's HIV and AIDS program? (1:45s) mp3
- - More broadly, how would you assess the progress South Asian countries are making in the fight against HIV and AIDS? (1:36s) mp3
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