Medecins Sans Frontieres joins fight against HIV-AIDS in India

[Guest guest]

Medecins Sans Frontieres joins fight against HIV-AIDS in India

Imphal /New Delhi September 27, 2005

The Nobel Prize-winning international aid agency, Medicines Sans Frontieres

(MSF), known in English as Doctors without Borders, will

provide AIDS treatment as part of its routine health care activities

in Manipur, a north-eastern Indian state plagued by armed conflict and high

rates of HIV and AIDS.

The Dutch section of the organization has signed a memorandum of understanding

with the Manipur AIDS Control Society and obtained approval from the Manipur

state authorities to include HIV-AIDS treatment and prevention in its existing

primary health programs.

In Churachandpur, a district capital particularly affected by conflict, the aid

organization will open a treatment facility for

general diseases, including sexual transmitted diseases and HIV-AIDS.

Following its principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, the

clinic of MSF/Doctors without Borders will offer

testing services, prevention counselling, care and anti-retroviral

treatment. " It is our intention to support the existing HIV-AIDS activities in

Churachandpur district, " said Ms. Ria Temmerman, roject coordinator of

MSF/Doctors without Borders in Manipur. " With the support of the State Aids

Control Society, an active local society and People Living with HIV Aids

networks much is done in the area of prevention and education. However treatment

and testing facilities are still insufficient and Medicines sans Frontieres

could like to cover part of that gap. "

Figures from the Manipur Aids State Control Society indicate that thousands of

patients are in need of immediate treatment, which is minimally available in the

conflict-plagued State.

MSF/Doctors without Borders will continue to provide basic health

services, including to mothers and children, in four clinics. It aims to expand

its activities to other rural areas in Manipur

state. " Due to the law and order situation many rural health facilities are in a

vulnerable state, " Ms. Temmerman added. " MSF/Doctors without Borders has visited

parts of the most

vulnerable areas and supported the populations living there. But much more

medical support is needed. "

The memorandum of understanding with the State Aids Control Society

also incorporates MSF/Doctors without Borders support to the district health

facilities and local civil society groups.

In India MSF/Doctors without Borders sections from the Netherlands,

Belgium and Spain run medical programs in Manipur, Assam, Kashmir, Bihar,

Maharasjtra and Tamil Nadu.

In India, MSF/Doctors without Borders also promotes its Access Campaign for

Essential Medicines, an initiative that advocates for

the right of each individual to have access to affordable, essential

medicines. The India advocacy activities are increasingly important,

now that India has revised its intellectual property legislation, potentially

raising drug prices.

Around the world, MSF has been caring for people living with HIV-AIDS since the

mid 1990's. In 2001 the organization started offering

treatment to patients in Cameroon, Thailand and South Africa. In 2005 MSF

provides ARV treatment to more than 14,000 people in 27 countries.

For more information:

Hans van de Weerd

Director MSF Holland

tel. +911124332419

mob.+919810114884

msfh-india-hom@...

Leena Menghaney

Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines

Medecins Sans Frontieres - Holland (in India)

C 106, Defence Colony

New Delhi 110 024

India

tel. 00 91 11 24337225, 00 91 1151552413

mob. +919811365412

msfh-india-medco-assist@...