All the SAARC countries are reporting cases of HIV/AIDS and the epidemic is spreading rapidly in most of the countries. India has the single largest proportion of HIV positive cases within its border, second globally to South Africa. On the basis of available information it can be assumed that over 5 million estimated HIV infected people are living within the region. The danger for SAARC Region rests in the low ‘general population’ prevalence rates, which may be undermining the gravity of the situation. Such low rates conceal dangerously elevated ‘concentrated’ infection rates within high-risk groups such as CSW, MSM, IDU etc. The fact is that despite the low prevalence rates within this Region, the factors are in place to spread HIV/AIDS farther and faster than in any other region globally. The existence of high-risk group behaviours, migrant workers, truckers, mobile populations in search of sexual pleasure, drugs, and commerce, the unequal status of women, the lack of population awareness of ‘basic’ risks and prevention strategies, the trafficking of women and young girls within the sex trade, the high rates of STIs etc., all make for an explosion of HIV/AIDS within the region.

Information at a Glance:

Estimated No. of people living with HIV/AIDS in SAARC Region, end 2003

*End of December 2004, Country Report, Bangladesh

**On assumption from previous data

***Data from Maldives National AIDS control programme

Others are according to 2004 report on the global AIDS epidemic

HIV/AIDS in the SAARC Region an Update 2005 - To be finalized
HIV/AIDS in the SAARC Region an Update 2004