Clinton comes calling India on World AIDS Day

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It's World AIDS Day today. Former US President Bill Clinton visited the capital; bearing gifts yesterday - 10,000 free doses of treatment for HIV-infected children, reports CNBC-TV18.

 

On the eve of World AIDS Day, former US President Bill Clinton visited the capital and along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, launched an initiative for the free diagnosis and treatment of HIV-affected children in the country, spearheaded by the National AIDS Control Organisation.

 

Director General National AIDS Control Organisation, Sujatha Rao said, "The importance of the initiative is to diagnose HIV in infants and provide treatment. We have been unable to do so till now. 1800 kids are on treatment so far, but on adult doses, which is not appropriate."

 

Anbumani Ramadoss, Health Minister also gave some statistics, "In the last six months, we shortlisted 20,000 children, screened 5,000 and now have 1800 children under treatment. We have seven centres of excellence all over the country."

 

The Clinton Foundation is donating 10,000 doses of pediatric anti-retroviral drugs, as part of the program. "Today in developing countries, one in four adult, who needs treatment to live has access to that treatment. It is too low, but far better than the one in ten children. We're here today to change that," said Clinton.

 

Sonia Gandhi was equally serious about the challenges the country faces. "TB, malaria, eradication of polio, nutrition of children and adolescent girls are serious concerns. Even so there is now widespread HIV/AIDS demands our urgent sustained attention," said Gandhi.

 

With an estimated 202,000 children in the country infected with HIV/AIDS, and approximately 56,000 more born infected every year, according to NACO figures, this is a program waiting to take off.