India's Mission AIDS Suraksha: Aiming for HIV Control by 2027

India is on a mission to control HIV by December 1, 2027, under the initiative Mission AIDS Suraksha. The recent workshop in Guwahati marks the beginning of a focused review aimed at enhancing strategies in high-priority districts across the Northeast. With 60 districts identified, the meeting emphasizes tailored approaches to meet global health targets. Senior officials are collaborating to develop actionable plans that align with local epidemiological trends, reinforcing the government's commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat. This initiative is crucial for improving health outcomes in the region and ensuring that individuals living with HIV receive the necessary support and treatment.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 16:39 IST

Guwahati Workshop Launches Intensive HIV Control Efforts

Guwahati, Feb 26: India is set to achieve HIV control by December 1, 2027, as part of its Mission AIDS Suraksha, announced Rakesh Gupta, the Director General of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), during a recent event.

Speaking at the opening session of a three-day review meeting focused on the National AIDS and STI Control Programme in Guwahati, Gupta highlighted the significance of the Northeastern region in the national HIV response, noting that 60 out of 219 high-priority districts are located here, excluding Sikkim.

Gupta stated that this workshop is the starting point for a concentrated review and action-planning initiative aimed at enhancing progress in these critical districts throughout the Northeast.

As the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), he emphasized that the meeting's goal is to bolster district-level planning and execution strategies to expedite the achievement of national HIV control objectives.

Meghalaya is actively engaging in the review, focusing on advancing progress in its designated high-priority districts: East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, and West Jaintia Hills.

In line with intensified national efforts, eleven regional workshops named ‘Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala’ are scheduled across the country from February to March 2026, targeting all 219 high-priority districts.

The Guwahati workshop is the inaugural event in this series, addressing 60 identified high-priority districts across the seven Northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

During the three-day meeting, representatives from various districts are discussing tailored strategies to help their areas achieve Surakshit Plus status by meeting the global 95-95-99 targets.

These targets stipulate that 95% of individuals living with HIV are aware of their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive ongoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 99% of those undergoing treatment achieve viral suppression.

The meeting will conduct a thorough review of the NACP's implementation in the Northeastern region, focusing on enhancing district-level ownership, evaluating micro-level performance indicators, identifying gaps in implementation, and formulating corrective action plans based on local epidemiological data.

Senior officials, including Project Directors from State AIDS Control Societies and program leaders from the region, are participating in the review, which is organized in three batches to ensure focused discussions tailored to each state.

The discussions are expected to result in clear, actionable plans customized to each state's epidemiological profile, reinforcing the Indian government's ongoing commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS as a public health concern and advancing the goals of Mission AIDS Suraksha.