Question : PAEDIATRIC DOSES OF ANTI- RETROVIRAL DRUGS

(a) whether as per a report titled “Towards Universal Access Scaling Up Priority HIV/ AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector” jointly released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS and UNICEF, out of the 39.5 million people living with HIV/ AIDS in the world, 5.7 millions are in India;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the National AIDS Control Organisation has started giving free paediatric doses of anti-retroviral drugs to children under the National Programme during August to October 2007;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government to provide treatment to all the HIV and AIDS patients free of cost?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)

(a)&(b): Revised estimates based on Sentinel Surveillance-2006 and National Family Health Survey-III, there are estimated 2 to 3.1 million cases of HIV/AIDS in India.

(c) to (e): National Paediatic ART Initiative was launched in November 2006. Free ARV drugs for adults and paediatric formulations for children have been made available at 127 ART centres where over 1 lakh adults and nearly 8 thousand children are under treatment.