Gandhi on AIDS in India

[Guest guest]

India's ruling Congress Party leader Gandhi was part of the

Indian delegates attended the recently concluded International

conference on AIDS held in Bangkok, Thailand. The following are some

of the media coverage on Gandhi's statement on AIDS in India.

[Moderator]

A] India can control AIDS:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_17-7-2004_pg4_14

B] sees Bangkok bond in AIDS fight

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040717/asp/nation/story_3506175.asp

C] Govt committed to meeting AIDS challenge:

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2 & theme= & usrsess=1 & id=48706

A} India can control AIDS:

BANGKOK: India's ruling Congress Party leader Gandhi told a

world AIDS conference on Friday that India, the country with the

second largest number of HIV cases, will meet the challenge of its

growing crisis.

Fending off criticisms that India has been complacent as its numbers

soar, Gandhi said India had done much to fight the deadly scourge,

including developing inexpensive generic drugs, increasing funding

and improving the safety of the blood supply.

But she acknowledged that " we need to do a great deal more " in India,

which with 5.1 million HIV/AIDS cases is ranked only behind South

Africa in terms of numbers. AIDS workers said Gandhi's support for

the AIDS battle will make it a higher priority in India than it has

previously been. Afp

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_17-7-2004_pg4_14

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B] sees Bangkok bond in AIDS fight

AMIT UKIL

in Bangkok on Friday. (AP)

Bangkok, July 16: Gandhi today stressed that " India was

committed and determined to meet the daunting challenge of AIDS " .The

Congress president, on her first trip abroad after becoming

chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance's coordinating

committee 50 days ago, attended four engagements today, including a

meeting with the Thai Prime Minister.'s visit is in response to

the Thai government and the International AIDS Society's invitation

to attend the closing ceremony of the 15th world conference.

However, it was not publicised as it was a private one.She arrived

yesterday morning and stayed at the Orient, a posh hotel on the banks

of the Chao Phaya. The local media may have known of her arrival " but

we were told not to report on it " , said a reporter of a leading

Bangkok daily, giving an indication of the security levels accorded

to her.The Thai government also extended to her the " due courtesy

that it gives a head of state " , said a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Protocols were maintained along with the security and discussions

were held, mainly revolving around joint efforts to fight AIDS. " India

and Thailand share a close cultural, political and economic

relationship… we have much to learn from this country in many areas,

not the least being in HIV/AIDS management itself, " told the

closing ceremony of the meet, the largest to be held since the virus

was identified 22 years ago.

Over 17,000 delegates from 160 countries attended the six-day meeting

that covered scientific, community and leadership issues linked to a

disease that has infected 38 million men, women and children so far.

The hour-long meeting had with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin

Shinawatra in the evening before leaving for India dwelt on joint

research and development efforts in treatment and anti-AIDS

drugs.Thailand's progressive anti-retroviral treatment programme

depends on drugs made from raw material manufactured in India. " The

leaders also discussed the possibility of working together on

developing traditional medicine and herbs as a supplement to anti-

retroviral medicine, " an Indian embassy spokesperson said. " Other

bilateral issues were broadly discussed as well. "

In the morning, visited a " living legend with whom my country

and my family has had a special relationship for decades " at his

hotel. Mandela, who will be 86 on Sunday, has retired from

public life. " But I cannot rest unless the global tide of AIDS is

turned, " the anti-apartheid leader and former South African President

said at the closing ceremony.

Thai foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai called on in the

afternoon and discussed the AIDS conference and related issues. The

meeting lasted half an hour. " AIDS control already accounts for 10 per

cent of our national health budget, " said earlier at the

closing ceremony.

" Many in my country believe that we are paying disproportionate

attention to HIV/AIDS at the expense of TB and malaria, for instance.

But the present government does not share this view. Just last week,

the budget for the National AIDS Control Organisation was increased

for this year. " The new government has already included the fight

against AIDS in the common minimum programme.The conference ended

with calls for sustained political leadership, united advocacy and

increased funding for the fight against AIDS. Medicine and the right

to normal life must be made accessible to all, the delegates urged

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040717/asp/nation/story_3506175.asp

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C] Govt committed to meeting AIDS challenge:

Press Trust of India

BANGKOK, July 16. — Underlining the need to integrate prevention and

treatment to tackle the spread of AIDS, Mrs Gandhi today said

the government was determined to meet the " daunting challenge " posed

by the pandemic with the same resolve adopted to eradicate smallpox.

" Given the scale of suffering wrought by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is

to be expected that doomsday scenarios of its spread are commonplace.

My country figures prominently in all these projections, " the UPA

chairperson said addressing the concluding session of the 15th

International AIDS Conference here.

" While there is no place for complacency, I would like to take this

opportunity to categorically assert the determination and ability of

the government and people of India to meet this daunting challenge

just as they did in the campaign to eradicate smallpox some decades

ago, " the Congress president said.

Mrs Gandhi said the government had already allocated 10 per cent of

the national health budget for AIDS control.

Mrs Gandhi also met veteran South African leader Mr Mandela on

the sidelines of the global AIDS forum here today and held one-on-one

talks for about 25 minutes.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2 & theme= & usrsess=1 & id=48706