HIV in Assam: State achieves 91% first-95 target, but drug-use infections rise

Guwahati: HIV prevalence in Assam may stand at just 0.13 percent, lower than the national average of 0.20 percent, but behind this number lies a story of resilience, struggle and a determined fight against stigma.

On World AIDS Day 2025 on Monday, this story unfolded at the Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium in Kalakshetra, Guwahati, where the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) gathered people—mostly young students—to reaffirm a shared commitment: ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” set the tone for the event. It was more than a slogan; it was a reminder of the need to safeguard progress, strengthen HIV services and empower communities that work tirelessly at the grassroots.

Indranoshee Das, Project Director of ASACS, opened the event by reflecting on how far the state had come since the society’s inception in 1998. She reminded the audience that World AIDS Day is observed to support people living with HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.

She highlighted one of the state’s major achievements—the Integrated Health Campaign conducted in HIV-vulnerable districts such as Nagaon, Tinsukia, Cachar and Kamrup (M). Because of this campaign, Assam made a remarkable leap in the UNAIDS first 95 goal, raising the percentage of people who know their HIV status from 52.38 percent in 2022–23 to 91 percent in 2025–26.

Lakshmanan S, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Assam described the fight against HIV as a never-ending battle and stressed the need to spread awareness across every corner of the state.

His concern centered on the sharp rise in injecting drug use, noting that more than 60 percent of newly detected HIV cases in Assam now involve injecting drug users. He also expressed disappointment that stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV continue despite numerous sensitization drives.

Echoing this message, Umesh Phangcho, Director of Health Services, said that awareness remains the strongest weapon against HIV. He urged the youth to avoid high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sex and injecting drug use.

A heartfelt voice came from Jahnabi Goswami, president of the Assam Network of Positive People. Speaking from her own journey, she emphasized that discrimination persists in society and that more sensitization and awareness are essential to ensure dignity and equality for people living with HIV.

The event recognized the achievements of several districts. Thirteen districts—Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Cachar, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Bongaigaon and Goalpara—were felicitated for successfully completing the 60-day Intensified IEC Campaign held from August to October 2025.

Outside the venue, ASTC buses branded with HIV awareness messages were flagged off, symbolically carrying the campaign to communities across Assam. Throughout the state, World AIDS Day was observed through rallies, community meetings and awareness activities using mass media, folk media and social media.

The data presented on HIV prevalence painted a mixed picture of progress and concern. According to the HIV Estimation Report 2025, an estimated 33,174 people in Assam are living with HIV, while India as a whole has an estimated 25,61,161 people living with the virus.

In Assam, about 1,757 new infections occurred in 2024–25. Among districts, Nagaon has the highest estimated number of people living with HIV at 4,622, followed by Kamrup Metro at 3,938, Cachar at 3,646, Sribhumi at 2,522, Kamrup at 1,732, Sonitpur at 1,021, Golaghat at 1,013, Dhubri at 1,003 and Jorhat at 1,001.

Between April and October 2025, Kamrup Metro recorded 824 new detections, followed by Nagaon with 464, Sonitpur with 332, Cachar with 316, Tinsukia with 245, Dibrugarh with 183, Karbi Anglong with 170, Jorhat with 167, Barpeta with 164, Kamrup with 155, Lakhimpur with 134, Golaghat with 111, Dhubri with 109 and Sribhumi with 106.

The pattern of transmission has shifted sharply. In 2020–21, heterosexual transmission accounted for 77.3 percent of HIV detections, but by 2025–26 it had dropped to 27 percent. Meanwhile, detection through injecting drug use rose dramatically from 8.5 percent to 60 percent over the same period.

Despite these challenges, Assam’s targeted campaigns, especially the Integrated Health Campaign, have brought the state significantly closer to the global 95-95-95 goal, which aims to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.