TISS receives US$18.2 mn Global Fund to tackle AIDS, TB & malaria in India

October 7, 2009

October 06,

Bangalore

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has received a grant of US$ 18.2

million under the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)

Round 7. The amount will be used to enhance capacities of institutions of higher

learning in HIV/AIDS Counselling and undertake capacity building of counsellors

under the National AIDS Control Programme.

The Institute has 'Saksham', HIV/AIDS programme in India as part of the Global

Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) Round 7.

Saksham is a partnership between 40 academic institutions in over 25 states of

India. It will work closely with the National AIDS Control Organization, State

AIDS Control Societies, non-government organizations, representatives of

Positive People's Networks and corporate agencies to enhance the overall quality

of HIV/AIDS counselling and counselling training programmes in India.

As principal recipient, TISS is responsible for providing the strategic

leadership and direction to the programme. It is accountable to the India

Country Coordinating Mechanism and the Global Fund for grant management,

effective and efficient achievement of programme deliverables. The objective of

'Saksham' is sought to be achieved in partnership with the 6 Sub Recipients and

34 Sub Recipients.

'Saksham' is committed to responding to the needs of the national programme with

regards to HIV/AIDS Counselling training through increasing the number of

quality trainers. It will also look at improving the quality of training

infrastructure and training systems. Besides it will support and supervise the

training institutions and counsellors.

TISS along with NACO and other partners will work towards achieving the

programme objectives in India. " We believe that counselling has a critical and

pivotal role to play in prevention, treatment, care and support in the context

of HIV/AIDS. Hence there is a pressing need for large number of good quality and

skilled counsellors throughout India, which the programme will focus on, " stated

professor S Parasuraman, director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS),

The GFATM is an international financing institution set up by G8 countries to

support large scale prevention, treatment and care programmes against the three

diseases- AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. GFATM till date has committed US$ 15.6

billion in 140 countries in the developing world.

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