NACO gets Rs 600 cr aid for anti-AIDS campaign

The agreement between the GFATM and the National AIDS Control Organisation envisages reaching out to 65 per cent of estimated Indian HIV patients. More than 22 lakh people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in India, as per NACO’s 2008 survey.

Using the three-year grant, NACO aims to counsel and test 1.82 crore clients annually in as many as 10,700 integrated counselling and testing centres by the end 2012, said an official.
Of the estimated 65,000 HIV positive pregnant women, NACO intends to reach out to 60 per cent of them for treatment so that mother-to-child transmission can be avoided. To achieve this target, 83 lakh pregnant women have to be annually counselled and tested.

In the three-year period an estimated 70 per cent of HIV infected TB patients will be detected through a package of HIV-TB collaboration services. A part of the grant will be used to enhance the capacity of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, here and setting up of HIV infrastructure in 20 state and 5 national institutes. Also, cold storage units will be set up in 110 warehouses to store rapid HIV diagnostic kits.