India will fight its battle against AIDS: Kalam

[Guest guest]

India will fight its battle against AIDS: Kalam

Mohali, Sept. 29. (UNI): President A P J Abdul Kalam today said India

would have to develop its own drugs and vaccines to combat AIDS or

HIV as the deadly virus prevalent in the country had a different

strain from what was found in the West.

" Countries like India would have to fend for themselves because, I am

told that the AIDS virus which is prevalent in our country is of a

different strain from that which affects the West and Africa.

As such, our research institutes and professionals would require to

develop their own drugs and vaccines to combat our strain of AIDS/HIV

virus, " Dr Kalam said while speaking at the second convocation of

the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Educatio n and Research

(NIPER) here.

He said anti-vaccine for HIV or AIDS was in the advanced stage of

development and getting ready for clinical trials in India. " This

programme needs highest priority from multi work-centres in a mission

mode. Success in HIV or AIDS vaccine will indeed be a major milestone

for the nation and also for other countries. "

The President called for use of advancement in technology for

improving the health care system in the country.

" Such an effort will make cost-effective medical technology and

devices available and accessible to all the citizens of our country.

This will contribute for nation's progress as a strong body and sound

minds are essential to accomplish anything, " he said.