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World AIDS Day 2018: Myths and facts about HIV

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8 years ago

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World AIDS Day 2021: Why HIV virus is still a pandemic? What is the status of HIV in India?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The theme of the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, which shows support for people living with HIV and commemorates those who have died, is “Know your Status.”

According to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), people between the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. HIV testing allows you to know for sure whether the virus is there in your body or not, and seek medical help if you are HIV-positive, or continue taking steps to avoid getting the deadly virus.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which enters the body from outside.

This virus affects our immunity system and decreases the ability of the body to defend itself against infections and diseases. HIV virus is transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or even breast milk.

As sexual transmission is one of the ways the HIV infection spreads, along with the fact that it remains incurable so far, there is a certain social stigma attached to HIV positive patients.

Here are some myths that people believe HIV can spread through –

  • They think HIV/AIDS is spread by kissing and hugging.
  • Another false belief is that you can get HIV by sharing food or water.
  • You can contract HIV/AIDS if someone sneezes or coughs.
  • People think HIV can be spread by mosquito bite.
  • One of the biggest false beliefs is that you can’t have a baby if you are HIV positive.

Here are some facts to break these myths –

  • AIDS cannot be transmitted by sharing food and eating utensils with HIV positive person.
  • HIV cannot spread through saliva (Kissing), hugging or shaking hands.
  • The myth that women with HIV cannot have a baby is false. There are a number of options for women who are HIV positive to have healthy babies. HIV positive women who become pregnant are encouraged to speak with their doctor about the best treatment options available. Early prenatal care is important to reduce the likelihood of mother to child transmission.
  • It cannot spread through the sweat of infected person.
  • AIDS is not caused by mosquito bite.

Some numerical data facts about AIDS –

  • About 35 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since 1981, including 940,000 in 2017.
  • Every week, almost 7,000 young women aged between 15 and 24 are infected with HIV.
  • An estimated 77 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic in 1981, including 1.8 million in 2017.
  • South Africa has the world’s highest HIV prevalence, with almost one in five people infected.
  • United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) wants nine in 10 people to know their status by 2020.

We need to support the HIV campaign of this year “Know your status,” and let the mission UNAIDS be successful.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

3 weeks ago

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September 4, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.

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Latest Science News

Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon begins first mission to International Space Station

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has launched aboard Soyuz MS-29 on his first mission to the International Space Station, where he is expected to spend around eight months conducting research.

Published

2 months ago

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July 14, 2026

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Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has embarked on his first journey into space after successfully launching aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

The mission lifted off from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:17 PM on Tuesday. Menon was accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina as the three-member crew began their expedition to the orbiting laboratory.

Crew to spend about eight months aboard ISS

The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station a little over three hours after launch. Once aboard the ISS, the crew will carry out a range of scientific research and technology demonstration projects during their mission.

The expedition is scheduled to last approximately eight months, with the crew expected to return to Earth in 2027 after completing their planned activities in orbit.

Menon’s maiden spaceflight marks a significant milestone in his astronaut career as he joins the International Space Station crew for long-duration research and operational work.

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Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to meet PM Modi after return from historic space mission

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned from the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, will meet PM Modi this evening. Parliament will also hold a special discussion on his historic journey.

Published

1 year ago

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August 18, 2025

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Subhanshu shukla

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening at his official residence in New Delhi.

PM Modi to host meeting with astronaut

According to officials, the meeting at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg is expected to take place between 5 pm and 5:30 pm. Shukla, who arrived in India on Sunday, will also be part of the National Space Day celebrations scheduled for August 23.

Warm welcome in India

The astronaut was greeted at the airport by his family, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and hundreds of citizens waving the national flag. Shukla had been in the United States for a year, preparing for the Axiom-4 mission, which launched from Florida on June 25 and docked at the ISS the next day. He served as the mission’s pilot.

Emotional note from Shukla

Before his return, Shukla shared an emotional post on Instagram, expressing mixed feelings of leaving his space colleagues while being eager to meet his loved ones and people of India. He also quoted a song from the film Swades, which he had chosen as his anthem on the launch day.

Parliament session on India’s space journey

In honour of Shukla’s mission, the Lok Sabha is holding a special session today to discuss “India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS – critical role of space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047.” Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the discussion would highlight the importance of India’s space achievements and future goals.

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