91997E2958

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2958/97 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: HIV/AIDS in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal

Can the Commission give details of its HIV/AIDS programmes in the above countries and of any plans it has for expanding any current projects?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (3 October 1997)

The Commission has a strong commitment to reproductive health programmes in Asia. Since 1991, MECU 365 have been allocated to the sector.

More specifically the B7-6211 budget line instrument focusing on the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has financed programmes in the four countries to which the Honourable Member refers.

India

- Support to non-governmental organisations (NGO) for HIV/AIDS/sexually transmissible disease (STD) activities in India1994-1998 ECU 556 000

- Support to STD prevention programmes among prostitutesfrom 1995 ECU 15 000

- Support to AIDS sensitisationfrom 1996 ECU 10 906

The Commission's strategy in India was mainly to support local and European NGOs in implementing prevention campaigns against HIV/AIDS and other STD transmission. It should also be noted that a larger project, dealing with health and family welfare and therefore including the HIV/AIDS issue has also been developed and amounts to MECU 200.

Pakistan

- Promotion of reproductive health among poor urban communities in Karachi1994-1996 ECU 320 000

- Continuation of STD health educationin preparation ECU 1 100 000

Bangladesh

- Support for community based HIV/STD initiatives1994-1997 ECU 700 000

- Support to AIDS prevention and education campaignfrom 1996 ECU 12 273

Nepal

- Reproductive health projectfrom 1995 ECU 920 000

- STD training and education1994-1997 ECU 625 000

- Support to integral rural programmes which includes components such as family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH)from 1995 ECU 105 337

The Commission's HIV/AIDS programme supports since 1992 the ministry of health, local institutions and NGOs to provide improved STD management and to carry out interventions to prevent STD and HIV transmission. During the first phase, national STD management guidelines were developed, laboratory equipment was purchased and some training of core staff was carried out. The purpose of the second phase is to develop training methods and to establish a national structure able to implement these actions and facilitate co-operation between relevant national partners.