In an attempt to increase accessibility of information and treatment of HIV , National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has rolled out a mobile app for AIDS awareness and prevention.
The app, first of its kind in India, is based on various international models. It would provide all kinds of information on AIDS, which is not easily available otherwise. For instance, it will provide information of HIV testing centres in the locality , information on availability of free testing kits and medicines etc.
The app, called HELP (HIV Education and Linkage to Prevention), will also prompt users to access HIV testing from the nearest centre free of cost.
The idea is to bridge the awareness and accessibility gap through digital intervention and encourage youth to know their HIV status. The move will also help the government to keep a count on the incidence and prevalence of HIV cases, which is currently a major area of contention.
The national AIDS control programme is the government's largest health intervention programme. The programme, run under NACO and implemented by states, demonstrated an overall reduction of 57% in the annual new HIV infections among adult population from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011, according to NACO's 2013-14 annual report. However, the facts were questioned by many international agencies, which said a lot of people in India are unaware of their HIV status.
According to the UN, India has the third highest number of estimated people living with HIV in the world.
"To start with, it will pro vide some basic information but slowly we will ramp it up to include detailed information and education as well as various services," an official said.
The app, first of its kind in India, is based on various international models. It would provide all kinds of information on AIDS, which is not easily available otherwise. For instance, it will provide information of HIV testing centres in the locality , information on availability of free testing kits and medicines etc.
The app, called HELP (HIV Education and Linkage to Prevention), will also prompt users to access HIV testing from the nearest centre free of cost.
The idea is to bridge the awareness and accessibility gap through digital intervention and encourage youth to know their HIV status. The move will also help the government to keep a count on the incidence and prevalence of HIV cases, which is currently a major area of contention.
The national AIDS control programme is the government's largest health intervention programme. The programme, run under NACO and implemented by states, demonstrated an overall reduction of 57% in the annual new HIV infections among adult population from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011, according to NACO's 2013-14 annual report. However, the facts were questioned by many international agencies, which said a lot of people in India are unaware of their HIV status.
According to the UN, India has the third highest number of estimated people living with HIV in the world.
"To start with, it will pro vide some basic information but slowly we will ramp it up to include detailed information and education as well as various services," an official said.
