State spending on public health needs scaling up:Minister

Bangalore, Sep 15 (UNI) Karnataka Health Minister R Ashok today stressed the need for enhancing the state spending on public health which hovered around four per cent of the State Gross Domestic Product.

Speaking after inagurting the 22nd National Conference of Sexology, organised by the Council of Sex Education and Parenthood International, (CSEPI) here he said at global level the expenditure on public health was six per cent and there was need for the state to match these figures.

Referring about 'Sexual Health in the 21st Century", which is the theme of the conference he said discussion about sex in public was still a taboo in the society and felt that it should be removed in the interest of the overall good of the society.

Mr Ashok said the dreaded disease HIV and AIDS was fast spreading in the country largely due to lack of awareness about the sexual health and its related issues. While state government was taking several steps to contain the spread of HIV incidence in the state, there was a need for pro-active action in creating awareness about sexual health and the practice of safe sex, he added.

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