The Hindu Business Line : DFID to step up funding for AIDS control schemes

THE Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK is in the process of finalising plans to increase its funding from £250 million to £300 million for AIDS control projects within the next three years as a part of the UK Government's resolve to step up aid to £1.5 billion worldwide this year to tackle AIDS.

The UK Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Hilary Benn, on a two-day tour of Andhra Pradesh, said that the UK Government has taken a lead in fighting AIDS and has, therefore, earmarked about £1.5 billion. This in effect works out to second highest funding for this initiative.

"Andhra Pradesh, as a part of the India assistance programme, is a big focus area for DFID and the allocation of about £250 million for India is by far the largest bilateral arrangements", he said.

"We need to sustain fight against tackling AIDS and TB. It is learnt that about 40 million people across the globe have been affected and about 20 million people have died due to AIDS. Apart from prevention, we need to fight against this major problem facing us apart from issues relating to social stigma and discrimination. This is a long drawn process," he said.

Commenting on his two-day visit to AP, Mr Benn said that he was pleased to interact with some of the children associated with a DFID-funded empowerment project.

DFID is supporting a State project that seeks to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of tuberculosis services throughout the State. DFID had committed £20.5 million for a five-year period beginning October 2000.

This seeks to strengthen management and organisational capacity and provide better access through public private participatory models. Mr Benn visited the Chest Hospital here and interacted with the hospital staff and patients.

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