(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Zubeda Hamid writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)
Towards the end of the year, it’s heartening to be able to begin on a note of cautious cheer. Around the globe yesterday, World AIDS Day was marked, and in the battle against this disease, India has done well. Yes, there are challenges ahead, and much more that needs to be done, but thanks to the tireless work of many in the medical field, government and the community over the course of decades, what was once a dreaded infection steeped in stigma, is now being beaten.
We have many stories on HIV/AIDS this week for you to get an overall picture of what’s happening in the country, but here are some quick numbers first: between 2020 and 2024, the country achieved a 19.4% decline in annual new HIV infections, a 30.6% reduction in AIDS-related mortalities, and a 63.7% drop in vertical transmission rates as per the India HIV estimate 2025 technical report writes Bindu Shajan Perappadan. The annual new HIV incidence rate, stood at 0.05 nationally in 2024.
Challenges however, remain: some States continue to have incidence rates of 0.20 or higher, as well as a high number of AIDS-related deaths, and stigma still persists, even while newer hotspots and vulnerabilities are emerging, driving home the necessity of the continuing work ahead, writes Director General of the National AIDS Control Organization, Hekali Zhimomi.
Dr. Amol Jaybhaye explains another challenge, the ‘silent transmission gap’ that puts newborns at risk of contracting HIV even if their mothers have tested negative during pregnancy and Dr. N. Kumarasamy warns of what lies ahead if funding drops, while also reiterating the need to bring in the new drug, lenacapavir, into the Indian programme. Regulatory delays and patent-related barriers however, are obstructing access to lenacapavir at the moment, activists warn. If you’re wondering why, after 42 years of unprecedented investment of time, money, and scientific effort, HIV still remains resistant to a cure, Dr. Arun Panchapakesan has an explanation.
Moving on from HIV/AIDS to research in the field of medicine, this week had exciting developments when it comes to the brain — an organ that continues to fascinate scientists as it still retains mystery. Anirban Mukhopadhyay decodes a series of papers published recently that offer a unified view of brain development across time and species — the new maps, he writes, portray the brain as a living continuum, a time-lapse of genetic patterns flickering on and off as cells mature, connect, and build networks. Sounds incredible doesn’t it? And if you’d like to read just a little more on the brain, here’s another study that states the human brain goes through five major eras of structural changes over a lifetime — marked by turning points at ages nine, 32, 66 and 83, while Robert Jacobs, in The Conversation, tells you why misremembering might actually be a sign your memory is working optimally. So that’s the excuse to use the next time you lose your keys!
When it comes to vaccines too, there have been developments: the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, under the Department of Biotechnology, along with the National Research Development Corporation, have signed a quadripartite license agreement with TechInvention Lifecare Limited for the technology transfer and future commercialisation of a new tuberculosis vaccine, the HSP Subunit Vaccine in Adjuvant (DDA). This apart, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF have announced a new agreement that will make the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines significantly more accessible and affordable, paving the way to protect more children. And finally, I did a podcast on whether India needs to include the mumps vaccine in its universal immunisation programme, in view of the spiking number of cases.
On the international front, there was one major piece of news: the World Health Organization published, for the first time, directives to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of infertility, which affects millions across the globe. One in six people worldwide experience infertility during their lifetime, it said, highlighting the need for safe, effective and accessible care for all.
Our tailpiece for the week is a lesson from our elders: what is it that drives longevity in India? Prof Sunil Rajpal, Shreya Ronanki, in a study on the health and well-being of centenarians in India, explain their findings here. Do give it a read to find out how our oldest-olds stay healthy, physically and mentally.
Our burgeoning list of explainers is on the massive side this week — take a look at what interests you:
In our all you need to know series, we have: tongue ties, R. Sujatha on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Dr. K. Baraneedharan on metabolic health and Crohn’s disease.
Ramya Kannan unravels that piece of news that caught everyone’s attention — uranium found in breast milk — and gives you the facts.
In an exciting development, new FDA-approved glasses can slow nearsightedness in kids
Athira Elssa Johnson has answers for anxious parents on what the ear infection in their child means, and also busts myths on what you should and shouldn’t feed newborns.
Climate change and health is an oft-explored issue in these columns: here’s a study on children being underweight in climate-vulnerable districts and another on high temperatures affect pregnancy.,
Hasina Khatun details India’s long battle with lymphatic filariasis and the challenges ahead
Dr. Anuradha Narayanan writes on the need to position optometrists at the frontline of eye health in India
And finally, here are two quizzes for you to test your health knowledge! How much do you know about sleep, and how much about AIDS? Do find out!
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Published – December 02, 2025 03:57 pm IST
