India need to have more research institutions on HIV/AIDS: NACO

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Lamenting that research based information inputs are lacking to guide government policy on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, National AIDS Control Organisation, Director General, Sujatha Rao today called for developing research institutions in a significant way to combat AIDS epidemic in the country.

Speaking at the three-day National Conference on Research in HIV/AIDS, she said that country at present lacked research and evidence based data on HIV/AIDS which are crucial to formulate policies. ''Input from operational research are essential to design an effective policy framework on AIDS control.'' Stressing that not many research institutions were working for human development, especially in critical areas like epidemics, in the country, she said that research institutions for meaningful research should be set up.

Ms Rao said there was a huge gap in operation and research.

''Theory is there but it is not backed by research design. So that such intervention policies can be devised which utilises minimum resources and are most cost effective.'' Stating that South Africa is much ahead in AIDS research and analysis than India, Ms Rao said that India needs to do more on sociological and behavioural aspect of AIDS spread.

India's UNAIDS Director Denis Broun said there was a slow progress in the prevalence of AIDS and the number of people taking treatment has been increasing. He said that success has been recorded in containing the dreaded disease in some states. But India has to do more research to effectively contain the disease.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr M K Bhan. Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology, said the methodical approach, increased budget, nurturing specialists, innovation, partnership and encouraging young talent with processes of ideas will help bridge gaps in research.

The three-day meet, being attended by over 650 delegates, will take stock of cutting edge HIV/AIDS research in the country. It is expected to identify problems in AIDS research. The conference, first of its kind in the country, will provide a platform for sharing and stimulating innovative and multi-disciplinary research ideas.

The conference has three main areas of focus. Firstly, Communications, behavourial and Social Sciences Research, secondly Biomedical Research and finally Programme Research.

India has the second largest estimated number of persons infected with HIV/AIDS. It also has one of the largest National HIV Control Programmes in the world striving to protect 1.1 billion people from the ravages of this epidemic. The NACO, 38 AIDS Control Societies, hundreds of NGOs, Blood Banks, and Hospitals are actively participating in this programme.

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