Pune, 7 April 2026

In a significant step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, convened a district-focused HIV response strategy workshop in Pune on Tuesday. As part of its nationwide effort, NACO is engaging with priority states in a phased manner to accelerate programme action in high-burden districts. These workshops form part of a series of focused review and strategy meetings, reflecting the Government of India’s targeted and accelerated approach to strengthening the HIV response at the district level.

Chairing the workshop, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Additional Secretary and Director General, NACO, emphasized the importance of district-led action. “India’s HIV response is now firmly anchored at the district level, where real impact is created. This workshop will cover 22 priority districts in Maharashtra, reflecting our commitment to a decentralized, data-driven approach. Strengthening district-level ownership will be critical to achieving our goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” he said.

The workshop brought together senior officials from NACO, the Government of Maharashtra, and district-level programme leaders to review progress, address challenges and chart the way forward for strengthening HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

Maharashtra, with an estimated 3.99 lakh people living with HIV and a prevalence rate of 0.29%, remains a key priority state under this initiative. Maharashtra’s 22 districts—Ahilyanagar, Amravati, Beed, Chandrapur, Dharashiv, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai (Suburban), Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Palghar, Parbhani, Pune, Raigad, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Thane, Wardha and Yavatmal—have been identified based on their contribution to the national HIV burden and are central to accelerating measurable outcomes.

Highlighting the state’s commitment, Dr. Nipun Vinayak, Principal Secretary, Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra, said, “Maharashtra remains fully committed to strengthening its HIV response through targeted, evidence-based interventions. This workshop has enabled districts to align their strategies with on-ground realities and reinforce accountability for improved service delivery and health outcomes.”

The workshop also saw participation from Dr. Sunil Bhokare, Project Director, Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS), along with senior district officials, including Chief Executive Officers and Additional Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads, Civil Surgeons, District Health Officers and District AIDS Control Officers.

The successful completion of the Pune workshop marks a major milestone in India’s HIV response, reinforcing a coordinated, decentralized and outcome-oriented approach that places districts at the forefront of action.

PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/ Priti Malandkar

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