Question : EXPERT GROUP ON AIDS

(a) the details of the report submitted by the Expert Group constituted for finding out the actual numbers of AIDS patients in the country and the criteria fixed by the Government for providing relief to the States highly prone to this disease;

(b) the names of the States in the country where action plan has been formulated for providing information to affected people and children by setting up a special centre in districts for the treatment of this disease and checking the same; and

(c) the details thereof?

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

(a) to (c)The total number of persons infected by HIV is estimated on annual basis by ICMR in collaboration with National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Delhi. No Expert Group has been constituted by National AIDS Control Organization for finding out the actual number of AIDS patients in the country. However, the Government of India is planning to conduct review-cum-assessment of all activities under National AIDS Control Programme including the process of surveillance and estimation by an independent agency.

The provision of funds for implementation of various activities under the National AIDS Control Programme in all States including States highly prone to this disease is based on the annual action plan prepared by all the States. After in-depth discussion with the Project Director and other officials of the State AIDS Control Societies, the National AIDS Control Organization approves these States action plans. District wise plan is done by the States AIDS Control Societies as National AIDS Control Programme is being implemented as a decontrolled Programme.

As per the physical targets for National AIDS Control Programme Phase II, National AIDS Control Organization has instructed the States/UTs to establish atleast one Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTCs), one Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic, one Prevents of Parent to Child Transmission Centers and one Blood Bank in each of the district of the country.