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Friday, Jan 07, 2005

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Awareness can prevent AIDS, says Manmohan

By Anita Joshua

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, talks to the AIDS activist and Hollywood actor, Richard Gere, at the media leaders' summit on HIV/AIDS, in New Delhi on Thursday. The Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramdoss, is also seen. — PTI

NEW DELHI, JAN. 6. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today made out a strong case for using the media to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, saying that as "in the absence of a vaccine, the social vaccine of education and awareness is the only preventive tool we have."

Addressing a media leaders' summit on HIV/AIDS here, he said: "While focussing attention on research for finding a vaccine for this pandemic, we must leave no stone unturned in preventing its occurrence by using the media in an intelligent and creative manner."

While the meeting saw media leaders from across the country make a commitment "to work together to expand public knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS," the leadership provided by the Prime Minister was lauded by actor-activist Richard Gere at a press conference held immediately after the meeting. Stating that only those countries had succeeded in battling HIV/AIDS where the exercise had got an effective political leadership, Mr. Gere said: "The Prime Minister was fully and passionately with us; and not reluctantly."

Determined leadership

Earlier, in his address, Dr. Singh echoed a similar sentiment. "Countries such as Thailand that have recorded declining trends of HIV/AIDS infection have shown us that this pandemic beats a retreat in the face of determined leadership, massive efforts in generating awareness among people, and empowering people with information to combat it effectively."

He also invoked Mahatma Gandhi to define the role of the media in fighting disease.

According to the Prime Minister, HIV/AIDS is no longer just a public health issue but has become a serious socio-economic and developmental concern.

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