Tamil Nadu

U.S. to double support for anti-AIDS fight

TAMBARAM: The United States would be doubling the quantum of support to aid the fight against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, Mike Leavitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said on Monday. India would benefit from this assistance.

He was talking to reporters after visiting the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram Sanatorium. He said the AIDS initiative of the U.S. administration was in place in many countries . “I am happy to state that America is part of the fight against HIV/AIDS across the world," he said.

In India too, the U.S. government, through its Centers for Disease Control, had supported the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. The U.S. Secretary said he was impressed with facilities available at GHTM and was encouraged to see the dedicated staff at the hospital.

Mr. Leavitt said he shared a close relationship with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and that he came to the GHTM on the latter’s personal invitation. The GHTM, Mr. Leavitt said, had evolved as an excellent testing centre and also had good experience in clinical delivery. Among others, who accompanied Mr. Leavitt, was David T.Hopper, U.S. Consul-General in Chennai. Supriya Sahu, Project Director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, and S.Rajasekharan, Superintendent, GHTM, guided him around the hospital.

Senior officials of the State Health Department said the GHTM was a principal beneficiary of the Indo -U.S. collaborative programmes to fight HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Upgrading facilities and creating new ones in the hospital, including sophisticated testing centres and laboratories, the Anti Retroviral Therapy Centre, setting up the family counselling centre and the well-equipped training centre in addition to appointment of more than two dozen clinical staff were some of the direct benefits of the CDC’s support, they said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu