Mumbai is gateway for AIDS:

August 5, 2004

Kolkata, Aug 4: There are 5.1 million cases of HIV/AIDS in India at

present with the highest incidence in Maharashtra, Union Minister

for Statistics and Programme Implementation Fernandes said

today.

" From Maharashtra and Mumbai, the scourge of AIDS is spreading all

over the country. Mumbai is the gateway for AIDS.... Incidence of

the disease has risen from 3.8 million to 5.1 million, " he said at

the inauguration of the West Bengal Legislators Forum on HIV/AIDS on

the Assembly premises here.

Fernandes, who is also the convener of the Forum of Parliamentarians

on HIV/AIDS, said till recently he had been unaware that the highest

incidence of the disease in Karnataka was in his own constituency

from where a sizeable number of people went to work in Mumbai.

He said the general perception that incidence of the disease was

less in Bihar and UP may be proved wrong in future as there was no

adequate detection facilities in those states.

Pointing out that the Forum of Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS had been

formed during the 13th Lok Sabha, Fernandes said it was the first

step in sensitising legislators about the dreaded disease and now

such fora were being formed at the Assembly level too.

" The idea is that unless the political leadership becomes serious in

fighting the disease, the common people will not take it seriously.

It is heartening to note that the issue of HIV/AIDS has been

included in the common minimum programme of the UPA government, " he

said. (Agencies)

Published: Wednesday, August 04, 2004

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