India marks World AIDS Day each year through nationwide awareness campaigns, community outreach activities, and renewed government commitments led by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

India’s AIDS Control Programme is globally acclaimed as a success story, the PIB said in a statment on Sunday.

The initial phase (1985-1991) focused on identifying HIV cases, ensuring safe blood transfusions, and generating targeted awareness. The response gained momentum with the launch of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) which was established in 1992 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to coordinate a multi-sectoral national strategy. 

Over time, the focus of NACP shifted from a national response to a more decentralised response and to increase involvement of NGOs and networks of People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

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