The Hindu : National : Phase III of AIDS control programme launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 07, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Phase III of AIDS control programme launched

Secial Correspondent

Focus on reducing new infections

NEW DELHI: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday launched the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-III), which aims at halting and reversing the tide of the epidemic in the country by 2011.

The focus will be on reducing new infections in all categories and preventing spread of HIV from the high-risk groups to the general population.

The Rs. 11,585-crore programme, to be implemented between 2007 and 2012, will ensure that 90 per cent of the 10 million units of blood required came from voluntary blood donation.

The NACP-III will focus on developing safe behaviours and attitudes in terms of human relationships, particularly among the youth and high-risk groups, and ensure easy access to healthcare.

Efforts are on to integrate HIV/AIDS with the National Rural Health Mission, particularly the TB Control Programme.

Dr. Ramadoss said the programme envisaged expansion of testing sites to 5,000 and establishing another 10,000 through franchising to the private sector.

The Government would establish centres of excellence in the four metros for collecting and processing one lakh units of blood annually.

He stressed the need to promote use of condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies and check spread of sexually-transmitted diseases.

Funds mobilisation

Of the Rs. 11,585 crore required, the Government would spend Rs. 8,023 crore.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National