Prevent AIDS through education: Manmohan

July 6, 2005

Special Correspondent

Issue particularly close to my heart:

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that in the

absence of a preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS, the social vaccine

of " education and awareness " was the only effective method of

prevention.

In a message to the 7th International Congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia

and Pacific currently being held in Kobe, Japan, Dr. Singh said

there was a need to put an end to the three `Ss' Esilence, stigma

and shame Eassociated with HIV/AIDS and make available to the youth

what they need most: information, knowledge and services.

HIV/AIDS is no longer just a public health issue but has become one

of the most serious socio-economic and developmental concerns, he

said in the message read out in the Congress by Minister of State

for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi.

In a separate message, National Advisory Council chairperson

Gandhi has said that HIV/AIDS was an issue that was particularly

close to her heart. " Apart from my keen involvement in our

Government's initiatives to combat this cruel disease, the Rajiv

Gandhi Foundation has also been actively engaged in AIDS control

efforts for over a decade " , she said.

Earlier, speaking at the meet, Ms. Lakshmi said that a multi-

sectoral approach had been the essence of the Government policies.

She talked about the Government's strong political commitment

towards strengthening the National AIDS control efforts and said

that this had been bolstered with the establishment of Parliamentary

forums at the Centre and the States.

She said a strong thrust had been given to the AIDS control efforts

by the setting up of the National AIDS Council under the

chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

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