"India: Disquiet About AIDS Control"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"India: Disquiet About AIDS Control"

Lancet (12/19-26/92) Vol. 340, No. 8834/8835, P. 1533
Mangla, Bhupesh

Abstract: The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided about $100 million for the National AIDS Control (NACO) project in the Eighth Five-Year (1992-97) plan for health. The amount comprises more than 15 percent of the nation's health budget, putting AIDS second only to malaria, for which a little more than 19 percent has been allotted. The majority of the sum for AIDS control is a loan from the World Bank. WHO is allocating $1.5 million by way of technical expertise. The National AIDS Control Organization, created in August to implement the control program, supports unlinked anonymous testing over mandatory testing. However, the medical community, which is fearful of nosocomial spread of infection, is divided on this issue. Also, the safety of the blood supply in India is questionable. Since 1989, when antibodies to HIV were found in some indigenously produced blood products, attempts to prevent contamination of blood have occurred. But earlier this year at a meeting convened by India's Prime Minister, plans for the AIDS control programs contained no mention of the safety of blood and blood products. The plans were resubmitted for review. Now, NACO has allocated $30 million for blood safety. Because the cost of testing by ELISA is less than $1 per sample, the sum should be sufficient to screen all the 2 million units collected each year. Yet NACO says that it cannot be responsible for the practice in commercial blood banks, which supply 29 percent of the blood collected in the country.

921219
AD922510

Copyright © 1992 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1992. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1992. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.