UNAIDS
International Goodwill Ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to join
high-level UNAIDS Country Mission on HIV on International Women’s Day
On
the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8), Indian icon and
acclaimed actress, and International Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS,
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will join a high-level delegation to carry out an
advocacy mission on the issue of women and HIV in Mumbai.
The
programme will involve a site visit to K.B. Bhabha Municipal Hospital
in Bandra, an integrated centre providing services to prevent new HIV
infections among children and to help support women affected by
gender-based violence. Mrs Rai Bachchan and the delegation will interact
with service-providers and beneficiaries -- both women and children.
Key objectives of the mission are:
- To highlight the progress India is achieving on the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive.
- To raise awareness on gender-based violence and address the status of women and girls, especially in light of reoccurring cases of sexual violence.
§ Mrs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, International Goodwill Ambassador, UNAIDS
§ Dr Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director
§ Mr Oussama Tawil, Country Director (UNAIDS India)
§ Mr Mahesh Mahalingam, Director, Office of the Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS
§ Dr V.K. Subburaj, IAS, Secretary, DAC, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI
§ Dr Naresh Goel, Deputy Director General, DAC, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. GoI
§ Dr Balkrishna Adsul, Additional Project Director, MDACS
§ Dr Mahendra Wadiwala, Chief Medical Superintendent & HOD, Peripheral Hospitals
§ Dr Pradeep Jadav, Medical Superintendent, K.B. Bhabha Hospital, Bandra
§ Dr Chitra Joshi,
In Charge, DILAASA-- a joint initiative of Centre for Enquiry Into
Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) and The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai
- Since her appointment on September 24, 2012, Mrs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has undertaken various missions and public speaking roles on behalf on UNAIDS, helping to raise awareness on issues related to the elimination of new HIV infections among children and advocate for increased access to antiretroviral treatment. Her commitment to the cause and strong voice has reached and impacted national, regional and global audiences.
- Currently in India there are an estimated 2.1 million people are living with HIV, which includes approximately 816,000 women and 145,000 children.
- While the HIV epidemic has stabilized in states where HIV was earlier concentrated in the past few years (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu), it is rising in certain low prevalence states and districts, mainly in the North and North-east.
- India’s extensive scale-up and coverage of HIV prevention services for key populations at high risk of infection is being globally recognised. Over the last two months, India has witnessed a series of positive developments with regard to the response to AIDS, including:
- Launch
of an ambitious National Strategic Plan – or NACP IV – for an estimated
USD 2.3 billion, with 63% of financing covered by domestic funds.
- Issuing
instructions for immediate adoption of lifelong access to triple
antiretroviral treatment for all pregnant women living with HIV (Option
B+) with a target of 100% geographical coverage
- Announcing
the intent to adopt antiretroviral treatment initiation at a CD4 count
of 500 as well as provision of 3rd line treatment
- Introducing the long-standing HIV Bill into Parliament;
UNAIDS
The
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires
the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero
discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts
of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women,
ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and
national partners to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more
at unaids.org
Follow us on social media for the latest HIV news, inspiration and insights across Asia and the Pacific:
www.twitter.com/unaids_ap
No comments:
Post a Comment