The graph of AIDS and HIV-related deaths in the state has plateaued over the last few years, showing negligible downward movement despite advances in diagnosis and treatment.
Activists say the lack of timely interventions tofight added infections such as tuberculosis,pneumoniaand meningitis is leading to maximum deaths not just in the state but nationally.
Latest data shows thatMaharashtracontinues to record an Average of 9,000 deaths in people living with HIV (PLHIV) every year, contributing to at least 15% of the AIDS fatalities seen in India annually. Between 2016-17 and 2021-22 (October), the state had recorded more than 47,000 (47086) deaths in HIV patients.
After recording 9,124 deaths in 2017-18 and 9,754 deaths in 2019-20, a decline was registered in the Covid pandemic year (7,316). However, a lag in reporting is likely to be responsible for the dip. Nationally, nearly 59,000 AIDS-related deaths were estimated in 2019. The National Aids Control Organization (NACO) said in a report early this year that deaths had declined by 66% since 2010 and by 78% since attaining its peak in 2005.