Maharashtra sees 33 per cent spike in sexually transmitted infections in 2022-2023

Mumbai: In a concerning development, the state has witnessed a 33 per cent surge in cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2022-23. Data from the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) reveals a total of 1 lakh STI cases were diagnosed in this period compared with 75,713 in 2021-22-a notable increase from the 76,038 reported in 2020-21.

Activists attribute a significant portion of the blame to the unavailability of free condoms and testing kits in the state programme for more than seven months. Some NGOs have reported not receiving condoms, which are to be distributed freely in hotspots, for over a year.

"The surge in sexually transmitted infections demands urgent attention. The unavailability of crucial resources may contribute to the increase in new cases and STIs," said HIV activist Ganesh Acharya. Activists highlighted the vital role of ensuring safe sex practices, underscoring Mumbai's data, which indicates that 96 per cent of new infections still result from unsafe sex while 3 per cent are transmitted from an infected mother to her baby. "Individuals with STI have a chance of acquiring and transmitting HIV by 5 to 10 times," said an official from MSACS. He, though, said the increase in cases might be attributed, in part, to normalisation of testing services post-pandemic. Before the pandemic, the state had reported 1.1 lakh cases in 2020-21 and 1 lakh cases in 2018-19.

Vijay Nayar of NGO Udaan said the national AIDS programme is reeling under a shortage of condoms, testing kits and even medicines in several parts. Further, many NGOs have reported not receiving funds for over 5 months. He expressed concern about the goal set by the Centre to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, requiring the achievement of the 95-95-95 targets by 2025-ensuring 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent are receiving treatment, and 95 per cent have suppressed viral loads.