A smarter way to test? How Telangana’s HIV strategy led to a three-fold drop in positivity rate

Dr. Monalisa Sahu, Consultant Infectious Diseases at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, underscores the transformative impact of Telangana’s innovative HIV testing strategy, which has led to a three-fold reduction in HIV positivity rates, now at just 0.49%. She explains that the state’s focused approach—prioritizing high-risk groups through community-based and targeted testing—has significantly improved early diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Dr. Monalisa highlights in an interview with The New Indian Express publication this strategy not only enhances accessibility but also helps reduce stigma associated with HIV testing, encouraging more people to come forward. By leveraging data-driven interventions and strengthening healthcare outreach, Telangana has set a benchmark in HIV control. According to her, continued emphasis on awareness, testing, and timely treatment is vital to sustaining this progress and moving closer to ending the HIV epidemic in the region.

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