The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sharing mission of prevention, control of AIDS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sharing mission of prevention, control of AIDS

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI, JAN 10. In an effort to remove bottlenecks, streamline communications and ensure better utilisation of funds, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is offering a unique option with its newly constituted Indian Communication Consortium on HIV/AIDS (ICHA). This latest addition, officials explain, is a step towards acquiring a "leaner and more corporate-like work culture".

Working on the programme, ICHA-NACO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF. According to it, the UN body would function as the secretariat office for the newly set up Indian Communication Consortium.

Sharing the mission of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and addressing the needs of children and young people, the two organisations will focus on the media, children, adolescents in and out of school, in their effort to reach out and involve the youth and other organisations in the process to scale up and increase visibility of the movement.

The membership of ICHA, for the various development agencies, comes at a contribution of at least one million dollars each for 2005.

"ICHA is an effort to bring knowledge and awareness on HIV/AIDS to all the people of India within the shortest possible time through fast and intensified media intervention and campaign. It will involve youth in as many creative ways as possible in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS, organise caravans and road shows to suit specific needs and sensitivities of different segments of population. It will also bring together alliances and partnerships already working on the subject,'' explained advisor NACO, Bhagban Prakash.

Both NACO and UNICEF will work together to pull in other international organisations and partners so that sufficient funds can be mobilised.

"The UNICEF and NACO have agreed to use their resources for the implementation of key activities. While UNICEF has agreed to contribute $ 500,000 until March 2005, NACO will chip in with kind or cash to implement these activities,'' explained officials.

Meanwhile, the secretariat will immediately initiate the process of hiring two leading advertising agencies and supervise a leading public relations company. It will also hire a research group to conduct baseline studies and to undertake monitoring and evaluation surveys on a regular basis, claimed officials.

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