World AIDS Day was observed across the country with awareness rallies being staged in several cities. Hundreds of youth and children carrying placards and raising slogans prominently displayed the anti-AIDS icon Red Ribbon as they passed through the main city centres.

A report of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) released on Friday reveals great success in retarding the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country as the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-3 completes its fifth year next month.

There has been a sharp 57 percent drop in the rate of new HIV infections in the last decade, a fact also hailed by the UNAIDS, the United Nations' arm working to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals of halting and reversing the epidemic by 2015.

Six years after the first HIV epidemic was recognised in the country in 1986, the Central government launched the NACO programme in 1992.

Two decades later the efforts of the ambitious programme have proved their merit.

With over one lakh new HIV cases added last year the fight to check the spread of the deadly infectious disease is still far from over, but the spread of the infection has started slowing down.

With the UNAIDS programme roping in Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as its International Goodwill Ambassador two months ago, it is hoped that the huge popularity of the former Miss World and a proud mother will impart momentum to combat the incurable disease by spreading awareness.”