THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) No Sir. However, the details of reported AIDS cases among children in the country for the last three years is as below:
Year Reported Cases in Children
2002 759 2003 1013 2004 1419
Some of these may be because of sexual abuse of children.
(b) & (c): As per the information available with National AIDS Control Organization as on 31st June,2005, out of the total number of 1,11,608 AIDS cases reported, 4854 were in the age group of 0-14. Some of these may be due to sexual exploitation.
(d): In order to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS in India, Govt. of India has launched a comprehensive National AIDS Control Programme, currently under implementation throughout the country as a centrally sponsored scheme under following components: -
- Preventive interventions for high-risk populations through targeted interventions adopting a multi-pronged strategy including peer counseling and behaviour change communication.
- Preventive interventions for the general population through programmes for blood safety, voluntary counseling and testing services, Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT), Information Education and Communication (IEC).
- Provision of low cost care and support services by providing community care services, treatment of opportunistic infections, free Antiretroviral therapy in designated centres and prevention of occupational exposure.
- Collaborative efforts to promote inter-sectoral programme activities including workplace interventions and public-private partnerships.
- Build technical and managerial capacities for programme implementation through Surveillance, Training, Monitoring and Evaluation, Technical Resource Groups, operational research and Programme management.
- A new paediatric initiative has been taken by NACO by setting up a Child Rights Division which will look into all child and HIV/AIDS issues, including exploitation.
