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HIV/AIDS
Anbumani Launches NACP III
To reverse the tide of HIV by 2010
The third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP III) was launched
by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss in New Delhi,
recently.
In line with its global commitment, the main aim of NACP III is to halt and
reverse the tide of the HIV epidemic in India by 2010. The programme aims to
reduce new infections in all categories and prevent spread of HIV from High
Risk Groups (HRG) to the general populations. NACP III seeks to ensure access
to a package of prevention and care services to an estimated four million people
in the high risk groups category, namely female steelworkers, men who have sex
with men and injecting drug users, ensure 90 per cent of the 10 million units
of blood required is from voluntary blood donation; conduct 42 million tests,
both in the public and private sector facilities to identify those infected
with HIV for providing early care and treatment; and provide treatment to 3,40,000
AIDS patients.
NACP III focus areas draw heavily from the experience in
the last two phases—NACP I and NACP II. To achieve these goals of reversing
the epidemic, NACP III envisages an investment of Rs 1,585 crore. Of these,
the Government will spend Rs 8,023 crore with the rest being mobilised from
private sector.
Developing safe behaviors and attitudes in terms of human relationships,
particularly among the youth and among high-risk groups and with a particular
focus on regions most affected. This is critical as unprotected sexual
relationships enhances the risk of getting sexually-transmitted infections
like HIV. - Ensuring the people infected and affected with
HIV get easy access to a comprehensive package of services that include
prevention, care, support and treatment.
- Establishing a world-class blood transfusion
system in the country for bringing down the incidence of blood- transmissible
diseases by actively promoting voluntary blood donation.
- Finally, NACP III, which at present is being
implemented as a vertical programme, under this phase could develop
a systems approach in order to underway for integrating HIV/AIDS with
the National Rural Health Mission, National TB Control Programme, and
health promotion aims at adopting healthy lifestyles. As the first step,
NACO will adopt this process of integration at the district level by
placing the district AIDS control units under the District Health Society.
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EH News Bureau
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