Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa has witnessed a significant drop in AIDS-related deaths over the past five years, even as the number of people living with HIV continues to increase. Data presented in the Rajya Sabha shows that fatalities fell from 105 in 2020 to just 24 in 2025, reflecting the impact of expanded access to free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) under the National AIDS & STD Control Programme (NACP).
During the same period, the number of individuals living with HIV in the State rose from 3,592 in 2020 to 4,285 in 2025. New infections peaked at 113 in 2021 but declined to 90 by 2025.
Officials attributed the reduction in deaths to improved treatment coverage and efficient monitoring of drug supplies. The government highlighted that there have been no shortages of ARV medicines nationwide, as supplies are centrally procured and tracked through an online system.
The NACP Phase-V mid-term review conducted in 2025 found that most programme targets were met or exceeded. However, it recommended stronger advocacy at State and district levels and more rigorous monitoring of interventions for high-risk groups, emphasizing that prevention remains a key priority.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare stated in the Rajya Sabha that prevention initiatives are carried out through NGOs and community-based organisations, targeting sex workers, homosexuals, transgender persons, drug users, migrants, and truckers. Awareness campaigns aim to increase risk perception among youth, while community-based HIV counseling and testing services have expanded screening and linked new cases to ART centres.
Efforts have also been strengthened to prevent mother-to-child transmission through enhanced screening of pregnant women. The minister added that measures to boost prevention, early detection, safe medical practices, and treatment access are being scaled up across the State.
While Goa mirrors the national trend of rising HIV cases, the sharp decline in deaths highlights the success of treatment interventions. Officials stressed that continued vigilance and preventive measures are essential as the population of people living with HIV grows.
