UN programme on HIV/AIDS launched in the Northeast

Agartala, Oct 13 (UNI) The Health and Family Welfare Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), has launched a programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care in the North-Eastern states.

Official sources said here today that the programme demonstrates a strong partnership among the governments of India, Australia and Sweden as well as the UN.

The programme envisaged augmenting awareness about the HIV virus, which would primarily be used for capacity building of civil society organisations in the NE, the sources said.

As part of the programme, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) had already established a comprehensive centre at Guwahati to provide enhanced support to the programme in the NE and strengthen a decentralised response.

The Australian government would provide 10 million Australian Dollars (approximately USD eight million) over a period of five years (2007-2011) for technical assistance, which would initially be delivered through the UN to four NE states - Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.

Similarly, the Swedish government would provide USD 6,50,000 over a three-year period (2006-2008), through the UN for supporting the programme, officilas added.

UNI