Delhi government launches major HIV awareness campaign targeting youth and communities, ETHealthworld
New Delhi: Health Minister Pankaj Singh said that HIV awareness is not just a health issue but also a matter of social responsibility as Delhi Government Officials said on Thursday that authorities had intensified their awareness, prevention, testing and treatment campaign targeting the infection.
They said the campaign would particularly focus on youth, communities, schools and colleges.
The intensive information, education and communication campaign, implemented by Delhi State AIDS Control Society, will be implemented across urban and rural areas of Delhi over the next two months under the slogan “Know AIDS – No AIDS”.
It was launched on the occasion of World Youth Day at Dr BSA Hospital in Rohini, with over 600 students, NGOs, partner organizations and community stakeholders participating in the event. An awareness march was also organized as part of the campaign.
In a statement issued here, the Minister of Health stressed the need to ensure timely access to correct information, tests, treatment and support.
“We must remove the myths and misconceptions surrounding HIV and ensure that no one living with HIV is discriminated against because of their condition,” Singh said, adding that HIV awareness is also a matter of social responsibility.
The minister said that youth have a crucial role in creating an informed and responsible society, urging students, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, civil society organizations and community representatives to participate in the campaign and disseminate scientifically accurate information about HIV prevention and treatment.
The campaign will focus on HIV transmission and prevention, early testing and treatment, and the rights and protection available to people living with HIV under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017.
As part of the campaign, awareness meetings will be held at village, colony and slum levels, along with grassroots performances, school and college awareness programmes, flash mobs, awareness marches, door-to-door campaigns, HIV awareness and testing camps, and outreach through digital and social media.
“Our focus is to take HIV awareness beyond hospitals and healthcare centers and into communities, educational institutions and families. Early testing and timely treatment can make a big difference,” Singh said.
“At the same time, we need to create an environment where people feel safe to get tested and treated without fear of stigma or discrimination,” he said.
Under the National AIDS and STD Control Programme, 14.29 lakh HIV tests were conducted in Delhi during 2025-26, resulting in 5,570 HIV detections, according to the government.
As many as 44,546 people living with HIV/AIDS are currently under active care at 12 antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers in Delhi. The program also covers 92.13 percent of high-risk groups through targeted interventions.
Delhi has 87 red ribbon clubs in colleges, while Sampoorna Suraksha Kendras have also been set up to promote comprehensive HIV services.
The campaign will also implement intensive case finding, community-based HIV screening, mobile testing initiatives and integrated health camps, the government said.
The Delhi government also provides financial assistance to eligible persons living with HIV through a dedicated scheme implemented by DSACS.
A total of 8,047 beneficiaries have been registered under this scheme, covering various categories, including persons living with HIV/AIDS, children living with HIV, and orphaned or indigent children affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS.
