Governor calls for corporate sector's involvement to combat AIDS

Mumbai, Mar 11 (UNI) Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna today urged the corporate sector to come forward in combating spread of AIDS.

Inaugurating the 'HIV Congress 2006' here, the Governor said besides the medical fraternity, involvement of corporates and civil society in combating AIDS and HIV was necessary to bring down the incidence of the disease in the country.

He expressed the hope that collective efforts from government agencies and NGOs would help reverse the trend of increasing number of HIV cases soon.

Former Indian cricket team captain Mohammed Azharuddin, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, WHO representative in India Dr Salim Habayeb and Conference Chairman Dr J K Maniar also spoke on the occasion.

The Governor also presented Lifetime Achivement Awards to gynaecologist Dr R P Soonawala, South African paediatrician Dr Hoosen Coovadia and Dr Brian Gazzard from UK for their outstanding contribution to medical profession.

The Congress, jointly organised by the AIDS Society of India, Association of Physicians of India, Indian Academy of HIV and Liver Diseases, Jaslok Hospital and Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society, is an annual update on HIV/AIDS for physicians from India and neighbouring countries.

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