NEW DELHI: Rallying political will at the state and district level, especially in the northern states, remains one of the biggest obstacles to address the challenge of HIV/AIDS in India, says an article in the August issue of The Lancet, a medical journal.

While the article, `Containing HIV/AIDS in India: The Unfinished Agenda' claims that India's national political leadership has made a strong commitment to a robust HIV/AIDS response, it, however, adds that there are substantial hurdles if it is to mount a truly effective response. Facilitating adequate resources and efficient use of funds is critical.

Technical, managerial capabilities and systems must be enhanced at all levels, the article suggests. As the scourge spreads, there will be increasing demands on money allocated for HIV/AIDS programmes to address needs ranging from prevention to care and treatment.

Authors

The article was co-authored by Sujatha Rao, Ashok Alexander, Padma Chandrasekaran, Gina Dallabetta, Virginia Loo, and Helene Gayle.

The latest edition of The Lancet magazine is dedicated to HIV/AIDS to mark the six-day XVI International AIDS Conference at Toronto, beginning August 13.

Managerial and technical capacity in the government and non-governmental organisation sectors requires renewed focusto implement HIV/AIDS programmes effectively. Enhanced management skills are required to prioritise action, optimise service delivery mechanisms and to use data to monitor achievements towards set objectives, the article adds.

On-site support

"Limited technical expertise in general, and in data analysis in particular, especially at the state and local levels, restricts the country's ability to adjust programming and anticipate emerging areas of need.

Building these capabilities will entail flexible recruitment, a network approach to training, on-site support, and tapping resources outside the government sector."

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, AIDS accounted for 3 per cent of all deaths and 9 per cent of all infectious disease deaths in India in 2002. The scourge is projected to account for 17 per cent of all deaths and 40 per cent of all infectious disease deaths by 2033, making it the largest killer among infectious diseases in India.

An Asian Development Bank/UNAIDS report estimates that AIDS could slow the pace of poverty reduction goals in India by 23 per cent between 2003 and 2015. It would also have an adverse social fallout and devastate an already fragile public health system , it says.

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