CNS: August 2022

Growing support globally to end HIV medicine stockouts in India

Several networks of people living with HIV are pouring in support to the ongoing indefinite sit-in (since 21st July 2022) outside offices of India's AIDS programme, to demand an end of stockout of HIV medicines, and ensure minimum one-month dispensation of these medicines nationwide.

Shortage of HIV medicines ails India: People’s indefinite sit-in continues since a month

[हिंदी] The indefinite sit-in of HIV affected communities which began on 21st of July 2022 has continued for over a month to demand end of stockouts of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy across India, and minimum one-month dispensation of medicines to people living with HIV nationwide.

Hepatitis: Will new evidence for "same-day test and treat" be a game-changer?

[watch the video interview | listen to the podcast] [हिंदी] A new study published last month in the Journal of Hepatology can prove to be a game-changer as it provides strong evidence that “same-day test and treat model” for hepatitis is feasible and possible. In the light of this strong evidence, if governments have to keep their promise to end viral hepatitis by 2030, there must be no delay in fully making this model a reality for every person who needs hepatitis-care.

[video] Is 17 years (since rollout began of HIV medicines) not enough to fix stockouts of essential medicines?

[video] We are fighting for #RightToLife as guaranteed by Indian constitution's Article 21, says CyCy

[podcast] When will 1-month dispensation of lifesaving HIV medicines become a reality for ALL people with HIV?

This podcast features Loon Gangte, who along with many other people living with HIV are on an indefinite sit-in demonstration outside office of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) - Indian government's apex programme on HIV, to demand end of stockouts of lifesaving antiretroviral medicines across the nation, and minimum one month supply of medicines to people across India. This podcast was recorded on 20th August 2022 which marks 31 days of this indefinite stir. The struggle is ongoing and continues.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Why has India not fixed recurring stockouts of HIV medicines in past 17 years since its free rollout began?

This podcast features Hari Shankar Singh who along with many other people living with HIV are on an indefinite sit-in demonstration outside office of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) - Indian government's apex programme on HIV, to demand end of stockouts of lifesaving antiretroviral medicines across the nation, and minimum one month supply of medicines to people across India. This podcast was recorded on 20th August 2022 which marks 31 days of this indefinite stir. The struggle is ongoing and continues.

Staff shortage remains a bottleneck in viral hepatitis services

[watch the video interview | listen to podcast] Indian state of Manipur, hard-hit by HIV and hepatitis both, should be providing free screening, diagnosis, and treatment services for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. But despite commendable progress in recent years, acute staff shortage is crippling the programme implementation.

Local coordinated actions firewall the HIV response from threats posed by TB, hepatitis, NCDs

[watch recording here | slides of Dr Paula Fujiwara] Over 28.7 million people living with HIV were receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy by end of 2021. While we push for efforts to ensure every person living with HIV is receiving full spectrum of HIV care and remains virally suppressed (so that undetectable equals untransmittable becomes a reality), we also have to safeguard against threats that can wither away gains made in fighting AIDS.