Remarks by USAID India Mission Director George Deikun at the Launch of the Samastha HIV/AIDS Initiative, Bangalore

January 10, 2007

Good afternoon. I am pleased to be here with you at the launch of the Samastha Project that will support HIV prevention, care and treatment in the state of Karnataka. I would like to thank the Honorable Chief Minister Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Yediyurappa, Health Minister Mr. R. Ashok, Health Secretary, Mrs. Usha Ganesh and Health Commissioner Mr. Basavaraju for their support in this partnership program and for their support of today’s event.

We are here not just for the launch of a project, but to collectively begin to focus on the issue of HIV/AIDS which threatens to undercut some of the state’s commendable economic performance in recent years. The Chief Minister’s presence here today is testimony to his commitment to this effort and other public initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS. This type of outward support from leaders will help to seriously address the issue of the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

It is estimated that more than 5 lakh (500,000) people live with HIV/AIDS in Karnataka and the numbers are growing in rural areas. Half of the 27 districts are high-prevalence districts. Several of these, particularly in the north, have prevalence levels as high as 2.5%. Karnataka is the only state with a rural prevalence rate among women that exceeds the urban prevalence rate. This highlights the need for a comprehensive program to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The United States Government has been supporting the efforts of the Indian National AIDS Control Program for more than a decade. We are privileged to work closely with Ms Sujatha Rao’s dynamic team from the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to usher in the third phase of National AIDS Control Program (NACP). The NACP-3 launch is around the corner and India’s national program is poised to comprehensively respond to the growing and changing needs of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The Samastha project, which is being launched today, is just one of the United States Government’s initiatives to support the National AIDS Program. This $22 million project (97.7 crores rupees) will be implemented over a 5-year period and will focus on 12 high-prevalence districts of Karnataka. It captures the spirit of NACP-3 priorities by integrating prevention, care and treatment activities.

The Samastha project highlights the continued commitment of the United States Government to prevent and control of HIV/AIDS under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This worldwide $15 billion initiative is the single largest international health initiative in history by one nation to address a single disease. USAID joins with other USG agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support programs in Karnataka.

The Samastha Project has been awarded to the University of Manitoba, and will be implemented in close partnership with Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS). I have no doubt this partnership will step up Karnataka’s response to HIV/AIDS. This partnership will support a consortium of more than 10 implementing organizations including local NGO umbrella organizations, medical colleges, government hospitals, research institutions, district administrations, community based organizations and People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The Karnataka Network of Positive People is a key partner in the project and will be actively involved in the design and management of activities. Local capacity building will be a key outcome of the project, as will assistance to strengthen the program and management skills of government staff at district and state levels in Karnataka. The partners have already had fruitful meetings with the KSAPS to outline objectives of the Samastha project and to select the districts the project will cover.

Although today’s launch is specifically for the $22 Million Samastha Project, USAID is also supporting other HIV/AIDS programs in Karnataka to develop institutional capacity and increase workplace HIV/AIDS policies and programs Family Health International and Population Services International.

In our midst today is a group of experts with a wide array of skills and resources and a committed leadership focused on a single objective - preventing new infections and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS in Karnataka.

USAID is promoting sound coordination between all partners in this program which we believe will best leverage and make use of program resources in order to scale-up our efforts and leave a legacy behind through this effort, something of which both our countries can be proud.

I am both thrilled and honored to participate today and I look forward to our continued and strengthened partnership to fight HIV/AIDS.

Thank you.