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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that in the absence of a preventive vaccine against HIV/AIDS infection, the social vaccine of “education and awareness” is the only effective method of prevention. In a message to the 7th International Congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia and Pacific currently being held in Kobe, Japan, the Prime Minister has said that there is a need to put an end to 3 ‘Ss’, silence, stigma and shame associated with HIV/AIDS and make available to the youth what they need most – information, knowledge and services.
HIV/AIDS is no longer just a public health issue but has become one of the most serious socio-economic and developmental concern, he said, in the message read out in the International Congress by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi.
In a separate message, Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has sent her good wishes for the success of the Congress and said that HIV/AIDS is an issue that is particularly close to her heart. “Apart from my keen involvement in our Government’s initiatives to combat this cruel disease, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has also been actively engaged in AIDS control efforts for over a decade”, she added.
Earlier, speaking at the International Congress, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi pointed out that a multi-sectoral approach has been the essence of the Government of India’s policies. She recalled the strong political commitment of the Government to strengthen the National AIDS control efforts and said that this had been further bolstered with the establishment of parliamentary forums at the Centre and the provinces. She said, a strong thrust has been given to the AIDS control efforts by the setting up of the National AIDS Council under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The Minister will meet with senior officials of UNAIDS in Bangkok tomorrow before returning to India.
EK/MK.
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