DR. THAKUR ADDRESSES PROJECT DIRECTORS OF STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETIES
The Union Health Minister,
Dr. C.P.Thakur has said that the sentinel surveillance system
developed by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) suggests
that the spread of HIV infections in the country has moderated
and there is a positive evidence showing that its spread is slowing
down. However, sustained efforts are needed to maintain this trend.
The Project Directors of State AIDS Control Societies, who are
the pivot of this programme at the State level should regularly
monitor the performance to find out any shortcomings of the programme
for appropriate remedial action. Dr. Thakur was addressing the
review meeting of Project Directors of State AIDS Control Societies,
here today.
Dr. Thakur said
that the time has come when we should focus more on inter personal
communication for the dissemination of HIV/AIDS related messages.
School and college students would need special emphasis to be
sensitised about the enormity of this major health threat. The
Minister said that it is very heartening to know that through
the efforts of the government approximately 76 per cent of the
people are aware of AIDS. Now the challenge is to change the level
of awareness among people to bring about behavioural change towards
the HIV infected people. This is a big challenge which the Project
Directors will have to address, the Minister said.
Speaking on the
occasion, Secretary Health, Shri Javed A. Chowdhury said that
this is for the third consecutive year in which the programme
has achieved near hundred per cent utilisation of allotted resources.
We have entered the 10th Plan in the current year and
are trying to scale up allocation of resources for this programme.
He said that the Government is going to expand programme on prevention
of mother to child transmission to whole of the country. The challenge
will be of unparalleled scale and the Project Directors have to
play a key role in this project.
Shri J.V.R.Prasada
Rao, Project Director, NACO stressed on effective utilisation
of funds. He said that the Government has approved the National
AIDS Prevention and Control Policy and National Blood Policy which
would help States AIDS Control Societies in effective programme
management as well as forging inter-sectoral coordination.
