State climbs from 12th place to first in nine months; special focus on HIV testing in prisons, vulnerable institutions cited as key factor

AMARAVATI, APRIL 2: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the top-ranked state in the country in HIV prevention and control, with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) recognising the Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society (AP SACS) as the best-performing state AIDS control body for the nine-month period from April to December 2025-26. The development was announced by State Health and Medical Minister Satya Kumar Yadav.

AP SACS secured a score of 107 out of 141 across 33 designated performance indicators, translating to a score of 75.9 per cent — surpassing all other states in the country. The achievement is particularly significant given the state's trajectory: AP SACS was ranked seventh on the same parameters during the corresponding period in 2024-25, and had slipped to 12th place by the close of that financial year.

A Steady Climb Through the Year

The turnaround has been swift and consistent. In the first quarter of 2025-26 (April to June), AP SACS secured second position. It then rose to first place in both the second quarter (July to September) and the third quarter (October to December), consolidating its lead in the cumulative nine-month ranking. NACO evaluates and publishes a cumulative scorecard for all state AIDS control bodies every quarter in accordance with its established guidelines.

Minister Satya Kumar Yadav attributed the improved performance to a series of planned and targeted interventions undertaken by the alliance government from the beginning of the 2025-26 financial year, aimed at strengthening HIV case management and improving the quality of care extended to those affected.

Focus on Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups

AP SACS Project Director (in-charge) Roninki Gopalakrishna highlighted that the state had achieved full compliance — a perfect score — on several critical indicators. These included conducting regular HIV diagnostic tests for inmates in central, district, and sub-jails, as well as for residents of orphanages, juvenile homes, and women who have been victims of trafficking.

The state also received high scores for its effective coordination with 36 non-governmental organisations working with high-risk groups, the operation of de-addiction centres catering to intravenous drug users, and the performance of Disha surveillance centres at the district level.

Out of the total 33 indicators, AP SACS recorded a lead position in 25, underlining the breadth of its performance improvement rather than gains confined to select categories.

Significant Decline in New Infections

Beyond institutional rankings, the data points to a broader public health achievement. Between 2010 and 2025, Andhra Pradesh recorded a 76.9 per cent reduction in new HIV infections — considerably higher than the national average decline of 48 per cent over the same period. Officials described this as a particularly noteworthy outcome that reflects sustained efforts over more than a decade.

Mr. Gopalakrishna expressed confidence that AP SACS would maintain its momentum through the remainder of the financial year and continue to serve as a model for other states in the national HIV control programme.