Guwahati, May 26: Three states of the Northeast ? identified as one of the most potent breeding grounds of the deadly HIV virus ? today signed the ?Guwahati declaration? for accelerating development of AIDS vaccines and to provide high-quality healthcare to people affected with the disease.
Political leaders of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam pledged their support to research and development of AIDS vaccines, including clinical trials and other prevention technologies as per the needs of the northeastern region.
Manipur, the worst-affected state, accounts for nearly eight per cent of the country?s total HIV positive cases and the figure is growing daily due to the large population of intravenous drug users.
Nagaland, too, has a large number of high-risk population, mainly intravenous users. While 271 people have died in Manipur of AIDS, 100 have lost their lives to the virus in Nagaland.
Though the scenario is not so alarming in Assam, it is nevertheless a high-risk zone. Guwahati especially, as the gateway to the Northeast, has a large concentration of the floating population.
The National AIDS Control Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research had signed a memorandum of understanding with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in 2000 to accelerate efforts to develop AIDS vaccine for use in India. The latter is a global non-profit organisation working to speed up search for a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS.
The first vaccine planned to be tested in India is a modified vaccinia ankaraa vector-based one. These vaccines will counter the strain of HIV subtype C, which is prevalent in the country.
An interactive meeting titled Working Together for an AIDS Vaccine for India ? a Partnership of Science and Society in the Northeast, was held at the Assam Administrative Staff College today to mobilise state-level political support.
The memorandum of understanding provides for community research and involvement, policy advocacy, networking with civil society and mobilising political support.
Project director of National AIDS Control Organisation Meenakshi Datta Ghosh said: ?We want to develop instruments in consultation with stakeholders in the Northeast that will promote sensitisation as well as participation towards the preparation of vaccine trials?.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, health minister Bhumidhar Barman, Manipur health minister Chalten Lien Amo, Nagaland youth resources minister R. Khing and former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir were present at the meeting and pledged to confront the challenges faced by humanity from the killer disease.
Manipur and Nagaland have been identified by the organisation as having high prevalence rates. Altogether 25 people have died of AIDS in Assam till 2001.
Officials from Indian Council of Medical Research, Mark Chataway from International Aids Vaccine Initiative, India, community leaders and NGOs were also present.