Strengthening the prevention and control services against HIV infection to attain universal health coverage

HIV infection has been acknowledged as a global public health concern since its emergence and it is clearly evident by the fact that the infection has accounted for the lives of 32 million people so far. It is important to consider that owing to the support from multiple sectors and a well-coordinated response owing to the assistance from the welfare agencies, the coverage of the prevention and control services has shown a gradual rise. However, from the public health perspective, it is quite obvious that the reported gains should not be a marker for complacency for the health authorities, as the observed gains are quite heterogeneous and there are a wide range of challenges which need to be addressed. In conclusion, in the battle against HIV epidemic, the need of the hour is to strengthen the package of HIV services and involve all the concerned sectors to ensure coverage of every section of the society.