Date:28/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/28/stories/2006102809000300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Move to stop health projects draws flak

Staff Reporter

20 sexual health schemes to be shelved

ALAPPUZHA: The decision of the Kerala State AIDS Control Society to stop 20 of the 50 participatory sexual health projects being implemented through Government and non-governmental agencies from October 31 has drawn flak from workers of the projects. The aim of the projects is controlling the spread of HIV.

Director of the society Rajan Khobragade had given notice to 20 agencies, informing them that the projects would function till October 31 only, said Kerala State HIV/AIDS Prevention Project Staff Union secretary M. Murugan.

Mr. Murugan said the implementation period of the 20 projects extended beyond March 2007 in the agreement signed between the agencies and the society.

He said the society had unilaterally decided to end the projects, giving scant regard to the contracts.

The projects had succeeded in controlling the spreading of HIV and alleviating the fears of the public about AIDS.

He said a large number of workers of agencies who implemented the programme were AIDS patients and the decision to wind up the projects had destroyed their morale.

Mr. Murugan said that while the National AIDS Control Organisation had placed some of the neighbouring States in red zone regarding the spreading of AIDS, the State was in the green zone, testifying the success in controlling the disease.

He said it was because of the successful implementation of participatory sexual health projects that the State could control AIDS.