Maharashtra to receive Rs 104 cr to fight AIDS

So far, only Rs 42 crore was received by the state, out of which Rs 11.89 crore was given to MSACS.

maharastra AIDS fund, AIDS, MSACS, National AIDS Control Organisation, NACO, pune news

Both the planning and finance departments have now assured quick disbursal of funds.

In the wake of reduction of funds to the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the state has now received an approval of Rs 104 crore in the annual action plan.

So far, only Rs 42 crore was received by the state, out of which Rs 11.89 crore was given to MSACS. On the occasion of World AIDS Day, minister of public health Ram Shinde said that he had followed up with the finance department to re-appropriate Rs 20.89 crore from the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society and transfer it to MSACS.

Both the planning and finance departments have now assured quick disbursal of funds. Shortage of funds had led to several NGOs working in the field of providing preventive HIV services to wind up operations.

IH Kundan, National Health Mission (NHM) managing director, who has additional charge of MSACS director, said that this initiative will clear the six-month backlog on payments to NGOs.

Kundan also said that funds worth Rs 6 crore would be given from NHM funds on a loan basis to clear the salaries of staff working in the field of HIV prevention.

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