The Hindu Business Line : Fighting HIV: AP to emulate S. Africa model

Hyderabad, June 6 Andhra Pradesh, which is home to a large number of HIV/AIDS patients, has decided to take a cue from South Africa in tackling the problem, which is spreading fast in the State.

The State is planning to emulate the model of ‘Nkosi’s Heaven’, a care centre where infected women act as foster mothers to the children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

A high-level delegation, led by Mr S. Chandrasekhar, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, visited the African country, which also faced a similar problem, for four days recently. They visited the hotspots such as Mpulanga Province and interacted with the agencies that were involved in fighting the disease.

“We are planning to emulate the model. We will adopt a district to set up a similar centre with the help of non-governmental agencies,” Mr Chandrasekhar said.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said the delegation held discussions with officials of South African Business Coalition for HIV and AIDS, National NGO Network and Treatment Access Group.

Andhra Pradesh, with a prevalence of 0.80 per cent far surpassing the national average of 0.32 per cent, needed to learn lessons from the South African experience, the Minister said.

The Mpupalanga Province, which has a number of coal mines, registers a prevalence rate of 27 per cent as against the national average of 17 per cent.

“The industry-government partnership was working well there and impacting the lives of workers suffering from HIV and their families,” he said.

Following the trip, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to integrate all rural medical practitioners, private clinics and district hospitals in one district initially. This network would reach out to HIV/AIDS patients and offer them anti-retroviral therapy drugs.

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