World Bank offers loan to India for controlling AIDS

June 06: The World Bank yesterday offers India a loan worth $250 million for the National AIDS Control Programme. The programme is in its third phase and it will work as a boost in the whole process of HIV/AIDS prevention.

In the latest report produced by United Nations AIDS agency, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in India is far less than the previous report. Earlier report of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has suggested that there are around 5.7 million people living with HIV positive but the current report of UNAIDS showed it around 3.1 million.

With this new number India stands behind South Africa and Nigeria as far as number if AIDS patients are concerned. International communities from a long time are accusing India for not taking adequate measure in this case and having the largest number. But India with funding from World Bank and International donors has made it a mission like other health programmes to bring the number down though it is still very high.

The overestimation in the earlier survey is due to the fact that a very less number of surveillance centres have been covered to collect blood samples. But the latest survey is carried out by covering large number of people of different sections. This is also a combining effort by International organisation, government and a number of NGOs who got involved in bringing out the accurate number.

Another encouraging point is that the HIV infection rate has also dropped from earlier 0.9 to 0.36 percent. However, a huge fund is necessary for fighting the cause and financial support will surely serve the purpose.

However, government needs to cover all backward regions and spread HIV awareness especially improving facilities in public health care centre. In the whole process more to more voluntary organisation should come forward and only then it will possible to cover such a vast population.

The World Bank fund will be spent in various programmes like improving surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, improving health services, and for providing all care and support to prevent the transmission of HIV.