Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 14 (IANS) Community-based organisations from the north Indian states began a two-day consultation here Tuesday to discuss suggestions for the fourth phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).

NACP Phase IV will define the national policy for HIV/AIDS control over the next five years. Organisations from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana are taking part in the ongoing discussions.

“The inputs of community groups into the design of the programme will create a timely understanding of the complex socio-cultural ground realities related to HIV/AIDS in the northern region,” said Sunil Mehra, director of NGO Mamta.

“The aim is to bring out challenges and provide inputs to NACP to fill the gaps and strengthen the process,” he added.

Over 200 organisations have gathered in the capital for consultation on issues for sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), and people living with HIV.

“In the NACP IV, north India can take a clue from the tragic trajectory that southern India witnessed in terms of HIV,” said S. Sundarraman, a civil society representative.

“Unlike southern India, this region can prevent the evolution of the epidemic by working with communities that are most affected by HIV and reducing their vulnerability to it,” he added.

The consultations started in Guwahati for the northeast region, currently in Delhi for north India, to be followed by Pune for western India, Kolkata for eastern India and Bangalore for southern India.