Global Fund to warn India of impending AIDS catastrophe

[Guest guest]

Global Fund to warn India of impending AIDS catastrophe

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, September 8

The Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria

will impress on New Delhi the need to redouble efforts against the

HIV epidemic " if India is to prevent a catastrophe " .

" Global Fund is very keen to encourage co-investment whereby we

invest alongside the corporation and gradually expand the programme

from the workforce to the wider community, " said Feachem,

executive director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria

in a teleconference from Male.

Established in 2002 as a global war chest against the three

diseases - AIDS, TB and malaria - the Global Fund has so far

allocated India $413 million for stepping up and expanding the reach

of preventive action and the treatment regime.

Of the $413 million allocated to India for seven programmes, $165

million has been allocated for programmes to check HIV/AIDS in

recognition of the urgency to tackle this disease.

During a five-day visit to India beginning Sep 15, Feachem would

meet the prime minister, finance minister and health minister among

others to discuss " the seriousness of the HIV AIDS epidemic in

India, the prognosis for the epidemic and the need to greatly

increase urgency and effort if India is to prevent a catastrophe " .

India is currently estimated to have 5.1 million people with

HIV/AIDS, the second largest number after South Africa.

Established in 2002 as a global war chest against the three

diseases - AIDS, TB and malaria - the Global Fund has so far

allocated India $413 million for stepping up and expanding the reach

of preventive action and the treatment regime.

Of the $413 million allocated to India for seven programmes, $165

million has been allocated for programmes to check HIV/AIDS in

recognition of the urgency to tackle this disease.

While stressing the importance of timely action, Feachem admitted to

sharing the view that not enough is being done by the Indian

government and the corporate sector in terms of funding and support

to make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS in particular.

" Yes I do share this view. Concerning the private sector, it is

clear that the corporate sector in India has a key role to play in

fighting HIV and aids, starting with prevention and treatment

programmes for the workforce. "

" We know that some industries like the Tatas have now adopted

progressive best practices type of policies in this arena. The

Global Fund is very keen to encourage those corporations, which are

doing the right things for their workforce. "

Stating that every country has to demonstrate its commitment to the

fight against HIV/AIDS by allocating domestic resources and not

becoming over reliant on foreign resources, Feachem expressed

confidence of a change given Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's

commitment to increase budgetary support for health care.

He, however, expressed regret that the government had not included a

proposal from Tata Steel for co-investment in Jamshedpur among the

projects India submitted for funding in Round Four.

That is one of the issues, Feachem would raise during interaction

with the health ministry and the Country Coordination Mechanism

(CCM) that finalises the proposals for submission and negotiations.

" We would like to see corporate proposals which are well thought out

come to the Global Fund, " the official said, citing the example of

South Africa where major corporations like Coca-Cola, Chrysler

Daimler or the Anglo American Mining company have been very actively

supporting the global efforts.

During his visit, Feachem is planning to meet Tata Group chief Ratan

Tata in Mumbai to discuss with him the proposal that was not

included by the government in Round Four projects for approval.

Expressing hope that many other corporates would follow Tata Group

example, Feachem said in particular the Indian Railways, the world's

largest employer, should adopt the programme.

" It (the Indian Railways) carries mobile men everywhere and are the

engines of the epidemic everywhere. And if you employ mobile men

then you need to be very active in your HIV/AIDS effort, " he said.

Similarly in the disbursement of funds allocated to India for

project implementation, Feachem favoured involvement of more NGOs.

" In Round Four (the agreement for which is expected to be signed

during Feachem's visit) in the HIV/AIDS proposal the government is

proposing two consortiums. One of them is an NGO consortium and the

other is a government consortium, " he revealed.

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