HIV/AIDS vaccine should be a priority for country: Kalam

[Guest guest]

HIV/AIDS vaccine should be a priority for country: Kalam

Press Trust of India

new Delhi, August 3

President APJ Abdul Kalam on Tuesday exhorted the country's medical

community to focus research efforts in the area of producing vaccine

for the killer HIV/AIDS in view of the danger it poses to the world.

" India has an advanced programme in this area and I learned that

tests are possible in one-two years, " he said after presenting the

BC Roy National Awards at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Producing vaccine for this disease should be a priority for the

scientists, Kalam said.

Noting that HIV-Tuberculosis combination had emerged as the new

killer, Kalam said prevention was possible only through a vaccine.

Kalam said scientists should work earnestly in the area of stem cell

research, which had great potential in treating diseases like heart

dysfunction and blindness.

Scientists at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences were

already engaged in exploring use of stem cells for treating

conditions in which heart muscle loses its activity, he said.

Kalam added that the stem cells were also being used for treating

blindness in the LV Prasad Eye Institute.

In view of Indians' susceptibility to heart diseases, efforts should

be made to know the reasons and solutions to this situation, he said.

Another area that needs attention of the country's scientists was

cure for crippling diseases like Parkinson's, Kalam said.

Fifty-four eminent personalities from the area of medical sciences

were presented awards by the President.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_925622,0008.htm