A Joint UN System response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India

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A Joint UN System response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India

13 years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Government of India is

stepping up its response. A second phase of the National AIDS Control

Programme is now ready for implementation. The imperative of this

second phase is to make India's response to HIV/AIDS inclusive of all

sectors and communities, emphasising decentralisation to State level

and below.

To ensure that the UN System activities add value to the national

response, the Integrated UN Workplan on HIV/AIDS evolved as a

strategic response to the National AIDS Control Organisation's (NACO)

request for enhanced UN collaboration. During the first quarter of

1998, a series of comprehensive consultations and working sessions

were organised by the members of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS to

develop a Joint Plan of Action for India. In its formulation, each of

the co-sponsoring Agencies of the Joint United Nations' Programme on

HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) focused on the specific mandate and technical

advantage it could bring to the national response. NACO played a

critical partnership role in this process, ensuring that the planning

was consistent with goals, strategies and policies of the national

response to HIV/AIDS.

The Integrated UN System Workplan on HIV/AIDS was formulated through

consultations with line ministries to ensure complementarity with

government programmes. Following the finalisation and distribution of

the UN Workplan in May, NACO chaired a major review meeting between

the UN Theme Group members and senior ministry representatives to

fine-tune counterpart commitments to the plan.

The UN System HIV/AIDS Workplan has been forged into a strong tool,

not only to coordinate current HIV/AIDS activities of the UN family,

but also to lay the foundation for future action. Better and clearer

collaboration and avoidance of duplication of activities is an

immediate outcome.

To further strengthen the UN system support to the second phase of

the National Programme, a number of National Officer Posts will be

established. These will cover areas such as HIV and youth, HIV and

reproductive health, collaboration with NGOs, private/public sector

collaboration, and HIV and education. These posts will supported by

the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, be located in major co-sponsoring

Agencies. These National Officers will synergise the national

response, both at central as well as state and district level, with

appropriate technical advice and support from the UN system.

The UN system will provide the national response more support in the

fight against the epidemic. The challenge for the UN family is to

establish priorities and translate the Workplan into tangible, and

where possible, joint action, through more resource mobilisation and

joint project implementation in partnership with the Government of

India.

Contact Us :

amit.sharma@...

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Source: http://www.un.org.in/Jinit/AIDS.htm