NACO to have joint secretary

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AIDS control body to have joint secretary

New Delhi, Jan 17 : The union cabinet Thursday approved the

creation of a joint secretary post to oversee the multi-billion

rupee National AIDS Control Programme (Phase-III).

Briefing the media after the cabinet meet, Information and

Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the decision would

help to coordinate with both national and international agencies.

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under the ministry of

health and family welfare, is the apex body to detect and curb the

spread of HIV/AIDS in India.

Currently, K. Sujatha Rao is its chairperson and she is responsible

for everything - from devising communication strategies to

overseeing medical supplies to states and setting up testing and

counselling centres.

The new joint secretary will supervise the procurement of goods and

services and supply chain management, which is expected to increase

two fold, Dasmunsi said.

" The coordination and supervision of activities in the social sector

and communication areas would be better achieved, " the minister

added.

At present, India is home to 2.5 million HIV/AIDS patients including

80,000 children below the age of 14.

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