Press Release: President Clinton to Visit India for HIV/AIDS Initiative

President Bill Clinton will travel to India next month on behalf of his foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, which has partnered with the Indian Government’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).

Of the 1 billion people living in India, 5.1 million are estimated to be HIV+ with the infection increasing among women and spreading to rural areas. The Government of India, under the direction of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the management of NACO, began offering free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in April 2004.

The Clinton Foundation has an active program in India, where they have been working since September 2004. The Clinton Foundation is currently working with NACO to scale up its free ART system and achieve its long-term treatment objectives. The Clinton Foundation’s program in India has been focused on supporting NACO’s implementation of its national plan, by strengthening the laboratory program and installing 13 CD4 machines, training private sector physicians, assisting in developing national guidelines for pediatric care, and supporting NACO’s programs in accreditation, monitoring & evaluation and capacity building. In addition to this, the Clinton Foundation has also successfully negotiated down the price of AIDS drugs and diagnostic reagents with various Indian companies. These low prices allow the Clinton Foundation to bring lifesaving treatment to many people in the developing world at affordable prices.

While in India President Clinton will visit a drug manufacturing plant and clinic as well as meet with patients and health officials.

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