INN Call for a strategy to combat AIDS

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Call for a strategy to combat AIDS

The Indian Express

Hyderabad, February 24, 2006

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The 9th National Convention of Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS (INN) held in

the city of Hyderabad, stressed on the comprehensive prevention, treatment, care

and support for HIV+ve people.

Talking today at the Convention of INN on AIDS, Regional Director of UNAIDS,

Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, JVR Prasada Rao, said “HIV/AIDS

is not yet a high priority for political parties in India, and commitment to

respond effectively to HIV/AIDS pandemic is still not reflected in the agenda or

mandate of any political party. There is a huge degree of stigma prevailing

within the healthcare sector and need for sustained funding for comprehensive

response to HIV/AIDS is very high. There is poor utilization or maximization of

existing infrastructure, services and resources for an effective response to

HIV/AIDS”.

The Convention attended by 400 NGOs from all over the country discussed the

issues like: private-public partnership for financial resource mobilization and

building capacity, cross-regional partnerships for providing care to migrant

population, providing training facilities to service providers, care and support

community volunteers and members from vulnerable communities. They also

discussed the expansion of anti-retroviral therapy in a sustainable way.

The INN demanded that the Government of India raises budgetary allocation at the

national level to HIV/AIDS, and engage other ministries like defence and

economic affairs, among others. They wanted these ministries to earmark funds

for an effective and sustainable AIDS response programme for multi-sectoral

collaboration.

Dr Radium Bhattacharya,

President

Indian Network of NGOs on HIV/AIDS (INN)

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Secretariat of 9th National Convention of INN, Hyderabad

February 23-25, 2006

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