AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 13:

        Both Central and State governments would have to increase health expenditure to 2.5 per cent in the 11th Plan while four per cent of the GDP should go towards addressing health concern in the coming years, said M Naganathan, Vice-Chairman, Tamilnadu State Planning Commission.

        Speaking at Reflections, an event commemorating 12 years of service of YRG Care in fighting HIV/ AIDS, here on Thursday, Naganathan said there was a need for greater budgetary allocation from both the Centre and State to tackle the ever- increasing problems in health-related issues. Earlier, during the programme, he launched an HIV intervention programme for prison inmates. The programme was inaugurated by Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran.

        Supriya Sahu, project director, TANSACS, said Tamilnadu is one of the largest care providers in the country. She said even though the State had more number of AIDS cases in the country, the ratio had declined to a large extent over the years. Referring to various initiatives in that regard, she said the State had handled matters efficiently. Highlighting the promise made by government to provide nutritional supplement for person receiving anti- retro viral therapy, she applauded the move and said this would benefit around 15,000 HIV- affected children.

        Minister for Social Welfare Poongothai made a brief presentation on the history on AIDS and the current problems faced by the countries world over. D Bachani, joint director, training, National AIDS Control Organisation, David Hopper, Consul General, American Consulate, Kenneth Mayer, professor of Medicine, Brown University, USA, also spoke.

        Later briefing journalists on the HIV intervention programme for prison inmates, Suniti Solomon, director, YRG Care said the programme would be started with a study of HIV awareness among the inmates and establishing the prevalence of sexuality transmitted infection among them. She said prison inmates always come under the high risk category. As part of the programme the inmates would be trained in six sessions and the chosen ones would be allowed to provide motivation and carry the programme forward, she said. She said another awareness programme with the support of Tamilnadu State AIDS Council Society and UNICEF would be launched for police personnel by next month.