‘Domestic funding enough to take AIDS programme ahead’
May 9th, 2012 - 10:44 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 9 (IANS) As global fund donors pull out from India’s next AIDS control programme (2012-2017), the chief of the coveted Gates Foundation-led Avahan project Wednesday said the country is capable of taking the programme ahead through domestic funding.
“Avahan had long ago taken the task of reaching out to highly vulnerable communities affected by HIV-AIDS in India. But now, over a transition phase, the Indian government will take it on its shoulders,” said Ashok Alexander, Director of Avahan’s country office here.
The Gates Foundation has spent around $358 million on AIDS control programmes in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharasthra, Nagaland and Manipur.
“This transition would happen till early 2014. At some point, the government had to take responsibly for the crucial AIDS programmes,” Alexander added.
In the transition phase, the funding of the Technical Support Units (TSUs) in the states will be done by the government.
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will be relying heavily on domestic funding for HIV that affects around 2.5 million in the country.
- India undeterred by global donors' pullout for AIDS control (Dec 1 is World AIDS Day) - Nov 30, 2011
- Health ministry wary of merging AIDS department with NRHM - May 03, 2012
- 'NACO merger with NRHM not insensitive' - Apr 27, 2012
- Need more resources for HIV-AIDS programme, Azad tells PM - Jul 04, 2011
- Bring transparency in AIDS programme: Civil society - May 17, 2011
- 'Community feedback must in India's AIDS programme' - May 05, 2011
- India can meet budget for its AIDS programmes: Azad - Dec 01, 2011
- India's winning plan to fight AIDS holds hope for Africa (Lead) - Jul 30, 2012
- Third Red Ribbon Express to spread AIDS awareness planned (Lead) - Dec 01, 2010
- Africa eyes India's winning plan to fight AIDS - Jul 30, 2012
- Scale up services for pregnant HIV-positive: UNAIDS - Apr 26, 2012
- HIV project saved 100,000 in India from infection: Study - Oct 11, 2011
- Gates praises India for containing polio - May 31, 2012
- 'India's AIDS control mission a successful model' - Feb 06, 2012
- Treat HIV/AIDS as social, developmental issue, say experts (Dec 1 is World AIDS Day) - Nov 30, 2009
Tags: 5 million, aids, aids control, alexander, ashok alexander, fund donors, gates foundation, global fund, hiv, hiv aids, indian government, naco, nagaland, national aids control organisation, New Delhi, shoulders, tamil nadu, technical support units, transition phase, vulnerable communities