Public Meeting on Access to ARV Treatment in Maharashtra

[Guest guest]

Subject: ITPC Public Meeting on Access to ARV Treatment in Maharashtra, India

Dear Madam/Sir,

HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious public health challenges facing the world

today. Since the first case which was recorded in 1986 the disease has now

reached epidemic proportions and is prevalent throughout the country. The

highest HIV prevalence rates are found in Maharashtra in the west; Andhra

Pradesh and Karnataka in the south; and Manipur and Nagaland in the north-east.

However, the discovery of anti- retroviral drugs have dramatically improved the

health and extended the lives of people with HIV/AIDS. Yet the high cost and

demanding clinical requirements of these drugs put them out of reach of the vast

majority of people with HIV. According to the Global Health Council, HIV can be

prevented only if there is " a reliable and consistent supply of more than 120

commodities, " which include HIV test kits, high quality ARV drugs, medicines for

treating opportunistic infections and sexually transmitted infections,

contraceptives and consumables.

In response to a people's campaign for access to ARV, NACO framed a policy

wherein in six of the high prevalence States in India people living with AIDS

would be provided the ARV treatment free of cost through the public health

system.

To discuss on the issue of access to ARV treatment in Maharashtra, ICHRL in

association with UDAAN Trust has organized a public / press meeting on " Access

to ARV Treatment in Maharashtra " . At this meeting the special issue Combat Law -

A human rights magazine (www.combatlaw.org) on HIV/AIDS will be launched by Dr.

Chandra Krishnamurthi*, Vice- Chancellor, SNDT University, Mumbai.

Topics at this meeting will include discussion on -

Maharashtra Government's policy and treatment protocol for ARV

- Dr. V L Kulkarni, MSACS

Experiences of People infected with HIV/AIDS in access to treatment

- Ms. Jaya Nair, UDAAN Trust

International judicial and governmental response to providing ARV treatment

- Adv. Mihir Desai, ICHRL

Date: May 16, 2006

Time: 5:45 pm onwards

Venue: YMCA, Colaba, Mumbai (Landmark: Regal Theatre)

We invite you to join us and participate in this public / press meeting. Please

call Reshma at 23439651 / 23436698 for more details.

Thanks,

Adv. Nitu Sanadhya Ms. Jaya Nair

ICHRL UDAAN Trust

India Centre for Human Rights and Law

4th Floor CVOD Jain School, 84 Street, Dongri

Mumbai 400009 India

Phone: (91) (22) 2343 9651 and 23436692

Fax: (91) (22) 2343 3698

email: training@...