USAID implements HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a U.S. Government-wide effort. India is a priority country under the plan, one of the largest health care initiatives of its kind. PEPFAR efforts include HIV prevention in high prevalence states and among high risk groups; work to ease the suffering of children affected by or infected with the disease; care and support to those affected; and involving the private sector to help stem the spread of HIV/AIDS on a broader scale.

Health activities increase the use of reproductive health and family planning services through initiatives targeted at three north Indian states – an area home to more than 210 million people. USAID also supports implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course strategy to control tuberculosis. To improve the effectiveness of child survival interventions, USAID helps develop urban health plans in Indian cities, and supports child health research activities as well as polio eradication efforts. USAID also helps promote proven health and diagnostic products through private sector markets. Integrated nutrition and health efforts improve maternal and child health through immunizations, P.L. 480 Title II food aid, family health care education and other preventive measures.

Key Accomplishments

HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment

• In Tamil Nadu – an HIV/AIDS “hot spot” – safe sex behaviors have been improving since USAID interventions began. Condom use in high risk groups (truckers) has increased from 44% to 80% (from 1996 to 2006), and contact with non-regular partners decreased from 48% to 34% during the same period. HIV prevalence among antenatal women – an indicator of HIV infection rates in the general population – is also declining (from 1.63% in 1999 to .5% in 2005).

Family Health, Child Survival and Reproductive Health

• The third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) coordinated by USAID in partnership with the Government of India and other partners is completed. Data on 39 indicators provides critical “health report cards” for India’s 29 states. Detailed information on various health indicators, including HIV prevalence rates country-wide and in six states, was collected under the survey. NFHS-3 data has drawn attention at the highest level of the Indian government to key programmatic issues including immunization and malnutrition.
• NFHS-3 data shows that use of family planning spacing methods has increased more in Uttar Pradesh, a focus state for USAID family planning programs, than in the majority of other states not receiving USAID support. Further, use of modern contraception has increased nearly twice as fast from 1992 to 2005 in areas where USAID projects are active, than where USAID is not active in the state.
• The Indian government, under the National Rural Health Mission, has adopted innovative reproductive and child health services, such as decentralized district planning and community-based workers, developed and demonstrated with USAID support. Public-private partnerships – voucher schemes, social franchising and contracting out – are being introduced in two northern states with government buy-in.
• USAID policy advocacy efforts contributed to India being the first country to accept and adopt the revised World Health Organization recommended formulation of Oral Rehydration Salts which has proven more effective in benefiting children with diarrhea.
• To boost immune systems and decrease child mortality, USAID offers technical support to government systems providing routine immunizations and Vitamin A. More than seven million children in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand states benefit annually from the assistance.
• The U.S. food aid program nourishes 7.5 million of India’s neediest women and children in 100,000 villages. Supplementary feeding is combined with health care services that are provided through Government of India and non-governmental organizations.

Other Infectious Diseases

• USAID supports the National Polio Surveillance Project, which conducts high quality surveillance for symptoms of the first stage of polio, provides technical advice and leadership for conducting supplementary immunization activities, and strengthens laboratories. The project helps the Government of India better target limited resources and take actions to improve polio eradication in India.

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For the detailed strategy in this program area click here.