Speech of Prime Minister at the Parliamentary Meet on HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

Speech of Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Parliamentary Meet on HIV/AIDS. May 11, 2002

I am pleased to be with all of you this morning at this Parliamentary Meet

on HIV/AIDS. I congratulate the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, ICMR,

and NACO for organizing this important conference in India.

The history of mankind is, in many ways, a history of its struggle against

death and disease. There are many indicators to the progress made by the

human race down the centuries. Perhaps the most telling among them are

successes of science and technology in man's battle against dreaded

diseases.

Many pestilences that claimed tens of thousands of lives in the past are

merely names in medical books today. Most countries have seen a steep fall

in their earlier high rates of infant mortality and maternal mortality.

Life expectancy is rising in most parts of the world.

Just when mankind was getting ready to declare its triumph over infectious

diseases, it is paradoxical that a new infectious disease should have

surfaced in the last two decades. HIV/AIDS is a disease that has the

potential to become an epidemic with catastrophic social and economic

consequences. Indeed, it has already become one in several countries and

threatens to do so in many others, unless its spread is quickly arrested.

In the past, epidemics generally tended to be local both in their reach and

in their lethal impact. In contrast, no continent, no country, and no

community have escaped the vicious trail of the AIDS virus. Thus, HIV/AIDS

can be called the first epidemic in the era of globalization. What was once

troubling the industrialized world is now, spreading rapidly in developing

countries. More than 95 percent of the newly infected people are in Sub

Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South East Asia.

Which is why, this global challenge calls for an effective global response.

No Country, however economically and advanced technologically, can liberate

itself fully from HIV/ AIDS unless the entire human race can be so

liberated.

Experience his shown, that the best way to respond to this challenge is " to

act locally and to collaborate globally " . It is heartening to know that in

the past decade, the expansion of the national programs against HIV/AIDS has

not been matched by the growth in international collaboration in this field.

Friends,

It his been two decades since HIV/AIDS attacked the world. So far, success

in developing a vaccine against this virus has eluded us. After extensive

research, rich countries have found ways to extend the lives of those

affected by the virus through a combination of anti-retroviral drugs. But

even common people in rich countries cannot afford these drugs. Most

infected people in poor and developing countries cannot even think of buying

these drugs.

Even after removing all excise duties on them - and our Government has done

so in the recent budget - such multi-drug therapy will still cost between

twelve hundred to twenty thousand rupees a month. Moreover, it is an expense

the patient has to bear indefinitely.

Therefore, the only solution is to develop a vaccine to prevent the

infection. AIDS control urgently calls, for new and innovative approaches

to develop effective vaccines, diagnostics, and drugs by using, among other

things, the modern tools of biotechnology. The latest technological

breakthroughs in genomic and related diseases have given new confidence to

the scientific community.

Early and correct diagnosis of HIV is critical for its subsequent control

and management. I am happy that in India we have launched major initiatives,

through our concerted focus on biotechnology research, to develop HIV

diagnostic kits. Two of them are already in the market and are doing well

both in India and in many other countries. We are willing to collaborate

with other countries and to share these technologies with them.

I, therefore, heartily commend the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health

and Family Welfare, ICMR, NACO, and the International AIDS Vaccine

Initiative in speeding up the development and distribution of a preventable

AIDS vaccine.

The international research so far, has been focused on the " B " sub-type of

the HIV virus, which is prevalent in the United States and Thailand, where

this research is taking place. In India as most of you know, the " C "

sub-type is prevalent. Therefore, we need the " C " sub-type vaccine as

quickly as all of you can develop it.

We have many laboratories, both under the Indian Council for Medical

Research and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which can

supplement the work being done overseas. Our research strength,

particularly in Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda, can also be used

to support your research.

For all of us in India, controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS and taking, good

care of its victims has become an urgent national task. I am concerned at

the rapid rise in the number of people affected by HIV/AIDS in our country.

it is a concern that is shared equally by the Central and State Governments,

as also by all political parties.

On my part, in December 1998 1 had convened a meeting in this same hall

with Members of Parliament to sensitize them on this Issue. Last year, we

had a useful meeting of the Chief Ministers of the six states in which this

disease is most prevalent. I commend the Chief Ministers of these and other

States for their efforts and acknowledge their contribution to making AIDS

control a national priority.

I am happy that the Indian business Community is beginning to realize its

responsibility in contributing its mite to the war on HIV/AIDS. We had two

useful meetings with prominent businessmen and they have taken upon

themselves specific tasks to spread AIDS awareness.

I believe that years of information, education, and communication programmes

run by NACO, State Governments, and NGOs have made some positive impact.

Many people, both in urban and rural areas, have now become aware of

HIV/AIDS and the dangers of unprotected sex and infected needles.

However, much more needs to be done. We need to reach out to the illiterate

and to those who are most vulnerable to AIDS infection. In this, our States

should learn the right lessons from one another and also from other

countries on " what works and what does not. We Should especially emphasize

that AIDS control is not only about safe sex and use of condoms. It is also

about making necessary changes in one's lifestyle so that one is responsible

and caring to oneself, to one's family, and to the community at large.

To effect such positive changes in attitude and behaviour, we should also

mobilize indigenous Indian Sources of moral authority. Which means treat

religious and social leaders should become far more active in the AIDS

control campaign than has been the case so far. We should also activate

trade unionists, School and college teachers, and, if necessary, the humble

postman to carry the message of prevention being the only cure, at least so

far.

Distinguished Participants,

This conference has been specially convened to launch a Parliamentary, Forum

on AIDS control. Some Members of our Parliament have taken the lead in

running AIDS awareness programmes in their Constituencies and in their

States. For this, they are even committing resources from the yearly

constituency development fund available to them.

I would like to make a special mention of a highly visible citywide campaign

launched by our young Member of Parliament, Shri Kirit Somiya in Mumbai. I

also recognize Shri Kapil Sibal, at whose initiative this conference is

being held, and Shri Fernandez, who has shown much dedication in

promoting the cause of AIDS control. Their examples deserve to be emulated

by other MPs.

The Parliamentary Forum that will be launched today should reach out to all

MPs, and through them, to Legislators in State Assemblies and members of

Panchayati Raj Institutions. As a first step, I suggest that your Forum

convenes a meeting of the MPs from the six most affected states of

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, and Nagaland,

even before the present session of Parliament ends next week to brief them

about this conference. I also suggest that the Parliamentary Forum, all the

NGOs active in this field, and NACO should work together to achieve better

results.

With these words, I wish you all the best in your deliberations.

Thank you.

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