AIDS numbers game again: Global donor says India tops chart

The numbers game over AIDS has erupted again with an international expert claiming that India has the highest number of HIV-positive people ...

The numbers game over AIDS has erupted again with an international expert claiming that India has the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world, much more than South Africa. Richard Feachem, in-charge of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV at The Global Fund, one of the largest AIDS donors, claimed in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday that figures are much higher than those given by the government.

The Global Fund to Fight Aids has committed more than $3bn to 300 programmes in 127 countries for combating HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria—India is expecting Rs 500 crore from the agency. Global Fund Is meeting in Geneva now. Feachem said that the epidemic in India was spreading rapidly and that nothing was being done to stop it.

The Indian government has dismissed the claim. ‘‘Our figures are based on the guidelines given by WHO and the model of surveillance is a globally accepted one used in every country,’’ said S.Y. Qureshi, Director General, National Aids Control Organisation. According to him, while the figures are collected by the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare from the states, DG ICMR supervises the procedures. ‘‘NACO just provides funds. An independent group which has representatives from WHO and UNAIDS monitor the procedures,’’ added Qureshi.

The international agencies are in agreement. ‘‘We don’t agree with the statement made Feachem. our independent surveys and the numbers are surely more than 5 million,’’ said Denis Broun, country coordinator for UNAIDS, India, who spoke to The Indian Express from Geneva.

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