The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Rampant spread of HIV/AIDS will derail economic growth”

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Rampant spread of HIV/AIDS will derail economic growth”

Special Correspondent

Tamil Nadu has taken the lead to bring down prevalence rate, says Anbumani

— Photo: R. Ragu

CHILD CARE: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss with State Health Minister M.R.K. Paneerselvam at the inauguration of Paediatric HIV/AIDS centre at the Institute of Child Health in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Unless the rampant spread of the HIV infection is effectively stemmed, it will derail the country’s economic growth, Union Minister for Health Anbumani Ramadoss said here on Saturday.

Speaking at the inaugural of the Regional Centre of Excellence for Paediatric HIV/AIDS at the Institute of Child Health, Egmore, Dr. Anbumani said the focus should be on preventing the spread of infection. Tamil Nadu had taken the lead to bring down the HIV prevalence rate — from over 1 per cent to 0.38 per cent.

About 75 per cent of the funds ploughed into the HIV/AIDS sector were being used for prevention and the remaining for care and support. Condom distribution through automated vending machines (1.36 billion condoms last year), targeted intervention programmes for high risk groups and formation of Red Ribbion Clubs were the various prevention activities being undertaken, he explained.

Free drugs

In care and support, the main activity was the provision of free ARV drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS. This was a substantial financial commitment, as the cost of providing one person first line drugs for one year was Rs.5,000. The cost of giving second line drugs for a person for a year was high at Rs.1,20,000.

More funds would come into the sector, with estimates of the allocation for the five year period of National AIDS Control Project– III, pegging the fund requirement at Rs.11,000 crore.

Complimenting the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) for its performance, Dr. Anbumani also had a word of appreciation for the funding agencies and non-governmental organisations working closely with the government in prevention and care and support.

Excellent facilities

The Regional Centre in Chennai, which will cater to positive children from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, is excellent in terms of the facilities it provides, he said, adding that the Centre would fund more such centres all over the country.

State Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said the centre, which had come up at a cost of Rs.35 lakh, was a collaborative venture between TANSACS, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the Clinton Foundation. He urged the Union Minister to allot more funds for Tamil Nadu.

Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said the regional centre was on a par with international standards. The number of testing facilities in the State had gone up, leading to a rise in the number of people being tested.

He indicated that one of the focus areas of the State, which had managed to bring down HIV/AIDS prevalence, should be on reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections.

Another milestone

Supriya Sahu, project Director, TANSACS, said setting up of the regional centre was yet another milestone in the State’s campaign against HIV/AIDS. Tamil Nadu had emerged the largest care provider, giving ARVs free of cost to 1,500 people. Children formed 7 per cent of the total beneficiaries.

Gayathri Oleti, CIFF representative, said the best way to reach out to the largest number of people was through the government. The organisation was also keen on working with other State governments in order to ensure the welfare of children.

Director of Medical Education T.P. Kalanidhi and Institute of Child Health director Sarada Suresh were present.

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