Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday hailed the role of National AIDS Control Organisation in significantly reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country, that ‘too faster than the global rates’ and said it has also worked with some of the most vulnerable people.
Presiding over the MoU signing ceremony between NACO, under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, here Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said, ‘as health is the responsibility of all government departments, there is a need for a ‘sub-department of health’ in all the Ministries, a ‘sub-department of health’ in all the Ministries for health impact assessment of the policies/initiatives of these Ministries right from the conceptual stages.’
He added that the Government is fully committed for meeting all the set goals to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030.
Appreciating NACO for its notable achievements, Dr Vardhan stated, ‘the impact of the programme has been significant with more than 80 per cent decline in estimated new infections from peak of epidemic in 1995.’
“Similarly, estimated AIDS related death declined by 71 per cent since its peak in 2005. As per UNAIDS 2018 report, the global average for decline in new infections and AIDS related deaths from peak has been 47 per cent and 51 per cent respectively,” the Minister mentioned.
Emphasising on the need for innovations and newer ideas and thoughts for taking forward the fight against HIV/AIDS, Dr Vardhan stated that good quality knowledge and widespread awareness campaigns about the disease have immensely contributed in combating it.
He said this is the age of innovations and ideas and the kind of results we are expecting cannot be achieved through routine activities. ‘Some of the brightest ideas have come from the grassroots and it is therefore pertinent that we involve the grassroots people in all our strategy deliberations through regular brainstorming,’ the Minister stressed.
Dr Vardhan said this is one of the most important MoUs. It will help in developing specific strategies and action plans for HIV and AIDS prevention and mechanisms for drug addiction treatment and extending social protection schemes to the vulnerable population.
He also highlighted that the MoU will help in developing human resources and build capacity in order to strengthen the service delivery mechanisms for HIV & AIDS prevention, drug addiction treatment and referral to services offered by National AIDS Control Programme and DoSJE.
The Minister said, ‘it aims at reducing incidence of social stigma and discrimination against victims of drug abuse and Children and People Living with HIV/AIDS. It aims to promote enabling environment based on no stigma and discrimination.’
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey Minister of State and Minister of State (DoSJE) Rattan Lal Kataria, along with Ms Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW) and Ms Nilam Sawhney, Secretary (DoSJE) were also present at the MoU signing ceremony. (UNI)
