U.S. and India Forge Strong Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS

NEW DELHI | June 05, 2006

Declaring the fight against HIV/AIDS in India a high priority, the U.S. Government since 2001 has quadrupled the funding through which several agencies implement and support HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in India. In 2001, the U.S provided $8 million for AIDS control in India, and by 2006, resources have quadrupled to over $29 million.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment to Combat HIV/AIDS around the world. Laura Bush, the First Lady of the United States, led the official U.S. Presidential mission to the U.N. General Assembly’s Special Session (UNGASS) in New York. At a meeting of world leaders on June 2, 2006, Mrs. Bush said: “All the people need to know how AIDS is transmitted, and every country has an obligation to educate its citizens."

"This is why every country must also improve literacy, especially for women and girls so they can learn to make wise choices that will keep them healthy and safe,” the First Lady added.

On a global scale, the U.S. has increased funding to fight HIV/AIDS under the Emergency Plan, which is the largest international health initiative by a single country to address one disease. The President’s request for $4 billion in funding for 2007 is a dramatic increase over the $2.4 committed in 2004.

The U.S. and India have forged a strong partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in India with support from organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC). The U.S. supports activities in high prevalence states, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and the Northeast to improve HIV/AIDS prevention and care for people living with the disease. These efforts are paying off. The trend in HIV prevalence among antenatal care patients appears to be stabilizing in some states like Tamil Nadu. Workplace policies and programs are being initiated in a number of companies, and U.S. supported initiatives are successfully reaching out to improved care and support for people living with HIV, including children.

At their meeting in July 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a commitment to strengthen cooperation and combat HIV/AIDS through a new initiative that mobilizes the private sector. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment for this effort during President Bush’s historic visit to India earlier this year. American and Indian businesses have given more than $1.3 million to the initiative through the Indo-U.S. Corporate Fund for HIV/AIDS.

The Government of India has also substantially increased its own resources to stop the epidemic. It established The National AIDS Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, which comprises more than 20 ministries with dedicated budgets for HIV/AIDS activities. The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is preparing for a broader national response under the 3rd phase of the National AIDS Control Program. The Government of India has also increased the number of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers and set an ambitious goal of providing free anti-retrovirals to 100,000 people by 2007.

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