Govt committed to fight HIV/AIDS: Sonia

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today asserted that the leadership and government of the country is committed to fight HIV/AIDS epidemic and called for involving women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in AIDS control programmes.

Launching the National Paediatric HIV/AIDS Initiative here on the eve of the World AIDS Day, Ms Gandhi said that containing HIV/AIDS required urgent and sustained efforts and the government is determined to expand HIV/AIDS programme. ''The National Rural Health Mission would make the HIV/AIDS control programme of the National Aids Control Programme (NACO) as its integral part,'' she added.

Calling for involving women SHGs by the NACO as they were best equipped to carry the message of HIV/AIDS prevention, she appreciated the invaluable service of NGOs in HIV/AIDS surveillance, prevention, counselling and care, she said that a determined campaign be launched against the stigma attached to the disease due to which even infant and children afflicted with the disease are ostricised.

Delivering the Keynote address, former US President and Chairperson of the Clinton Foundation, Bill Clinton called the developing countries to show political will and commitment to provide Anti-Retro Viral treament to all HIV/AIDS patients, both children and adults, requiring it.

Mr Clinton said that millions of lives have lost due to HIV/AIDS while about 0.5 million children are suffering from the dreaded disease while only 10,000 of them get ART treatment in developing countries outside Brazil and Thailand where government provides the treatment.

Lauding the Indian leadership for their commitment to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, he said that India pharma companies like Cipla and Ranbaxy have played a crucial role in making the ART drugs available at a cheaper price to a large number of people across the globe. He also complimented the French Goverment for supporting the International efforts to control HIV/AIDS.

''HIV/AIDS is hundred percent preventable, treatable and with hundred percent commitment, we can save millions of lives,'' he said.

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