Assam records Northeast's highest HIV burden; women among worst affected

Guwahati, June 24: Assam has emerged as the Northeastern state with the highest number of people living with HIV, according to the latest Union Health Ministry estimates, underlining the scale of the state’s HIV challenge despite years of awareness campaigns and intervention programmes.

The findings paint a worrying picture for public health authorities. Women account for a disproportionately large share of HIV infections in the state, while Assam also records the highest number of HIV-positive pregnant women in the Northeast. The report further indicates that Assam remains short of the global UNAIDS targets on HIV diagnosis and treatment coverage, highlighting gaps in early detection and sustained care.

Health experts say the findings come at a time when the nature of HIV transmission in the state is also changing. Recent data from the Assam State AIDS Control Society indicates that injecting drug use has overtaken sexual transmission as the leading route of new HIV infections in Assam, accounting for a majority of fresh cases in recent years.

While advances in treatment have transformed HIV into a manageable condition, challenges remain. Stigma, delayed testing and gaps in treatment access continue to hinder efforts to control the epidemic. Public health experts have repeatedly stressed that early diagnosis and uninterrupted treatment remain critical to reducing transmission and improving outcomes.

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has intensified awareness, testing and treatment initiatives across the country, but the latest figures serve as a reminder that the fight against HIV is far from over.

For Assam, experts say the challenge now extends beyond awareness campaigns to addressing emerging risks, expanding access to treatment and reducing the stigma that still prevents many people from seeking timely help.

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