HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) in India, since its inception in 1998, has evolved into a credible and robust system for HIV epidemic monitoring and acclaimed as one of the best in the world. Sentinel surveillance provides essential information to understand the trends and dynamics of HIV epidemic among different risk groups in the country. It aids in refinement of strategies and prioritization of focus for prevention, care and treatment interventions under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). HIV estimates of prevalence, incidence and mortality developed based on findings from HIV Sentinel Surveillance enable the programme in assessing the impacts at a macro level.
During NACP-IV, HIV Sentinel Surveillance will be conducted once in two years so that adequate time is spent on in-depth analysis and modeling, epidemiological research and use of surveillance data for programmatic purposes.
