People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus on anti-retroviral therapy are increasing: Effective patient retention strategy is need of the hour in low and middle-income countries

Sir,

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remain as an important cause of global burden of disease.^[1] The prevalence of HIV infection that is, people living with HIV/ADIS (PLH/PLA/ PLHA) are globally increasing. According to the recent estimate, about 35 million people were living with HIV throughout the globe.^[2] Although the prevalence is increasing, it is certainly evident that the number of new HIV infections were significantly declined.

In the recent past, the increase of HIV prevalence is mainly attributed to the prevention of AIDS-related deaths by an effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART), which increases the lifespan of PLHA by immune restoration or preservation. Reportedly about 7.6 million cases of AIDS-related deaths were averted by ART between 1995 and 2013.^[2] Furthermore, occurrence of persistent new HIV infections add up to the existing cases increases the PLH throughout the globe.