India, South Africa in joint AIDS effort

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India, SA in joint Aids effort

07/01/2004 18:55 - (SA)

New Delhi - The Indian cabinet on Wednesday approved a health

agreement with South Africa that includes measures to tackle the

HIV/Aids epidemic, Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

The agreement covers sharing expertise in community-based programmes

to deal with the spread of HIV/Aids, pharmaceutical services

including registration and procurement of medicines, tackling

tuberculosis and water-borne diseases, and research in cancer and

cardiovascular diseases.

Swaraj told reporters the agreement was approved at a cabinet meeting

chaired by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Similar

agreements have been signed with Hungary, Yemen, Seychelles and

Tanzania.

South Africa had last year identified India as a likely source of

cheap generic anti-retroviral drugs, that enable people living with

HIV/Aids to lead more effective lives. - Sapa-DPA

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Aids_Focus/0,,2-7-

659_1466573,00.html