AIDS is no more a death penalty. It’s rather a life sentence.

That’s what Dr Matin Ahmad Khan, an associate professor of biochemistry at MGM Medical College in Jamshedpur and the only Indian specialist to be recognised by American Academy of HIV Medicines in Washington, said on World AIDS Day on Sunday.

“There are only three known HIV-positive patients in the world who were said to be cured. But AIDS can certainly be treated,” Khan said.

He said patients had to continue taking medicines regularly like those who suffer from diabetes and hypertension.

“India has around 22 lakh AIDS patients, the third highest in the world after South Africa and Nigeria. Jharkhand has a little over 20,000 identified AIDS patients and about 60 per cent of them are getting treatment. Those infected are undergoing antiretroviral therapy,” Khan said.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis had been introduced to prevent the spread of infection among high-risk persons, he said.

Underscoring the importance of social outfits working with the HIV-positive patients, Khan said a pilot project of National AIDS Research Institute was successfully run by two organisations last year among sex workers of Calcutta and Mysore. “Collaborate, consolidate, conquer is the slogan of the day,” the doctor said.