Ramadoss: UN agency’s AIDS toll is questionable

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today criticised UNAIDS for not consulting the Government before releasing AIDS figures for deaths in the country in 2005.

“The Government is going to take up the case with the UN agency,” said Ramadoss, reacting to The Indian Express report which quoted the UNAIDS as saying that 4 lakh people died of HIV/AIDS in the country last year. The figure, according to the agency, is the highest in the world. South Africa with an estimated 3.2 lakh deaths is next.

“UNAIDS is a co-agency which has been working with the Government for years and is part of the sentinel surveillance conducted for HIV/AIDS estimation in the country. How do they arrive at independent figures then?” asked Ramadoss, adding that the Government stood by its own estimates.