Date:22/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/22/stories/2006042201410200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Anand is Avahan's ambassador

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Avahan, the India AIDS initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, announced on Friday that grandmaster Vishwananthan Anand will be the HIV/AIDS ambassador.

Avahan is the $ 200 million HIV prevention initiative of the foundation in India.

The programme focusses on the six high prevalence States — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland.

Mr. Anand will be part of Avahans's public education campaigns designed to create awareness about the disease to create a favourable atmosphere for HIV prevention efforts in the country.

He will focus on mobilising the much-needed engagements by business and industry and Non-Resident Indians living abroad.

According to a press release from Avahan, Mr. Anand will be a critical voice both abroad and in India for drawing attention to the devastation the disease has caused and the need for tackling the epidemic head on.