Act East on health

The northeast region of India has long been a focal point in the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS, with several states showing alarmingly high prevalence rates. According to the National AIDS Control Organization’s (NACO) 2022 report, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur lead the country in terms of adult HIV prevalence, with Mizoram at 2.70%, Nagaland at 1.36%, and Manipur at 1.05%. These figures highlight the gravity of the situation in the region and the urgent need for sustained attention and action.HIV prevalence is measured by the proportion of people living with HIV in relation to the total population. In states like Mizoram and Tripura, as well as Assam, there has been a worrying trend of downplaying the severity of the HIV crisis. For many years, these states seemed to sideline the issue, and today, they are witnessing a sharp rise in HIV cases. Tripura, for instance, has recently reported disturbing numbers. The Tripura AIDS Control Society (TSACS) disclosed that 828 students in the state have tested HIV-positive, with 47 succumbing to the disease. Despite attempts by the government to downplay the situation, it is clear that HIV/AIDS remains a major public health threat. Renowned HIV expert Dr. Ishwar Gilada has emphasized that these statistics are “just the tip of the iceberg.” The underreporting of cases and the lack of robust healthcare infrastructure further exacerbate the problem. Manipur, which has consistently ranked among the top five states in terms of HIV prevalence, has a reported 28,500 positive cases as of 2022. Meanwhile, Nagaland has overtaken Manipur, recording over 31,152 cases. The death toll in Nagaland alone, with over 2,600 HIV-related deaths by October 2022, paints a grim picture of the state’s ongoing battle against the virus. What makes this crisis even more concerning is the number of untreated HIV-positive individuals. In Nagaland’s Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts, out of an estimated 9,662 people living with HIV, only 3,034 are currently receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART). This means that more than 6,600 individuals are left without critical treatment, posing a threat not only to their health but also to public health at large. Pregnant women in Nagaland have been particularly affected, with alarming rates of mother-to-child transmission. In the Zunheboto district, recent screenings revealed 12 new HIV-positive cases, further underscoring the need for increased testing and prevention efforts. Since 2011, over 442 individuals in the district have tested positive for HIV. The northeast’s HIV crisis, once relegated to the background, has returned with a vengeance. Reduced public awareness and a sense of “awareness fatigue” have allowed the virus to spread unchecked. It is time to form task forces to assess the real situation on the ground and take decisive action. Without a serious, sustained focus on health and well-being, any talk of economic progress in the region will remain hollow. Thus solely harping about Act East in focusing on the economic vision and neglecting the human need for health is meaningless. Therefore, it is time to take proactive action to Act East on combating HIV as there has never been a more urgent issue.