India and Africa Will End AIDS As a Public Health Threat by 2030: J.P. Nadda

India has shown an overall reduction of 57% in new HIV infections in the past decade which shows potential of ending AIDS in the country by 2030.

At the India-Africa Forum Summit to “End AIDS Epidemic by 2030”, Health minister J.P Nadda asserted that India and Africa will jointly work to end the AIDS epidemic in both the nations by 2030.

The meeting has been attended by many leaders //from Africa. He has committed to provide a regulatory framework for making drugs more accessible and affordable.

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“We can confidently say that there is a probability of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. If we had met 15 years ago, we might have been discussing how the AIDS epidemic was growing out of control. But today, thankfully, we are meeting in a changed world and can claim that AIDS epidemic can be controlled. All of us can be proud of this achievement,” said Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

Health Minister said that India has shown an overall reduction of 57% in new HIV infections in the past decade. He also mentioned that India has learnt from Africa on tackling AIDS early by providing immediate access to treatment.

He assured that all Africans affected with AIDS will be given anti-retroviral treatment and India’s pharmaceutical industries will fulfill the dream of providing affordable generic drugs to Africa.

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Ensuring access to affordable and quality medicines and treatment was an important area of cooperation between India and African countries.

“Millions of lives have been saved from AIDS — in India and in Africa — and we continue to rely on this ability to produce quality drugs in the future,” he added.

The third India- Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi. India and Africa account for three-fourths of the HIV infected population in the world.

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"India would work with the African Union on doing a regulatory harmonization so that pharmaceuticals remain accessible and affordable and without compromising with quality. India would also support establishment of joint ventures in Africa to promote local manufacturing. We commit ourselves in encouraging this and ask companies to work closely with Africa in this direction and help in building technical and human capacities," said Mr Nadda.

Source-Medindia

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