📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Health
Six districts in Maharashtra achieve ‘Surakshit’ status for HIV response
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 11 Oct 2026, 12:17 PM
👁 13
The Maharashtra health department announced that six districts have been awarded ‘Surakshit’ status, reflecting progress in HIV prevention and treatment.
The state’s AIDS control programme said on Thursday that six districts have met the criteria for ‘Surakshit’ status, a designation that signals low rates of new HIV infections and robust service delivery.
Achieving the status requires districts to maintain high coverage of HIV testing, ensure that at least 95% of diagnosed individuals are on antiretroviral therapy, and keep the incidence rate below the national benchmark.
Health officials noted that the designation reflects the cumulative impact of intensified awareness campaigns, community‑based testing drives and strengthened linkage to care across the state.
The department plans to replicate the successful strategies in the remaining districts, aiming to have all 36 districts attain ‘Surakshit’ status by 2025.
Achieving the status requires districts to maintain high coverage of HIV testing, ensure that at least 95% of diagnosed individuals are on antiretroviral therapy, and keep the incidence rate below the national benchmark.
Health officials noted that the designation reflects the cumulative impact of intensified awareness campaigns, community‑based testing drives and strengthened linkage to care across the state.
The department plans to replicate the successful strategies in the remaining districts, aiming to have all 36 districts attain ‘Surakshit’ status by 2025.