Re: Department of AIDS Control

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

The National AIDS Control Project-III (NACP-III) which was launched

on 6th July, 2007,  necessitates that in recognition to the need of

full convergence and mainstreaming within the health sector, the

issue of Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) should be taken up in a

structured and needs based manner.

Co-opting of support from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and other

resources  will go a long way in generating a reinvigorated response to HIV

which may not be ensured in isolation just through the available support under

the extant National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).

Establishment of a Department of AIDS Control by the Union Government must be

perceived that way and strengthened to support the mainstreamed approach.

A strengthened response owned by the different stakeholders

supplemented by good governance of the systems (particularly the

service delivery infrastructure in both public and private sectors)

will also improve  the quality of healthcare in general and the

prevention, care, support and treatment of HIV/AIDS in particular.

All the socio-economic determinants of HIV/AIDS in particular and

health in general mandate a reinvigorated action on the part of all

the stakeholders to generate a strengthened response against the

development challenge in the most appropriate manner with a clear

emphasis on development of social capital and strategic intervention

in a mainstreamed way with focused communication at the centre.

It is high time we generate a concerted collective action, which may

be spearheaded by the Department of AIDS Control, Government of India

to ensure an effective response through addressing of the umpteen

prioritized issues in recognition of the fact that `HIV/AIDS is

everyone's responsibility'.

Best wishes,

Dr.Rajesh Gopal.

e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...>