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Clinton warns India over HIV/Aids | Clinton warns India over HIV/Aids |
(40 minutes later) | |
Former United States President Bill Clinton says India is now the epicentre of the global HIV/Aids epidemic. | Former United States President Bill Clinton says India is now the epicentre of the global HIV/Aids epidemic. |
Mr Clinton described the challenge to control the spread of HIV in India as a "breathtaking" but said there was still time to limit the impact of the virus. | Mr Clinton described the challenge to control the spread of HIV in India as a "breathtaking" but said there was still time to limit the impact of the virus. |
Mr Clinton, whose foundation is active in fighting HIV, made his comments in a BBC interview to mark World Aids Day. | Mr Clinton, whose foundation is active in fighting HIV, made his comments in a BBC interview to mark World Aids Day. |
The UN estimates that India has the highest number of HIV infections of any nation, 5.7 million people, | The UN estimates that India has the highest number of HIV infections of any nation, 5.7 million people, |
Commitment needed | Commitment needed |
"When you've got a billion people, and they are as disparate as the Indians are - disparate languages, different living conditions, different income and education levels - the education challenge and the challenge to overcome the stigma of discrimination is breathtaking," Mr Clinton told the BBC's Damian Grammaticas. | "When you've got a billion people, and they are as disparate as the Indians are - disparate languages, different living conditions, different income and education levels - the education challenge and the challenge to overcome the stigma of discrimination is breathtaking," Mr Clinton told the BBC's Damian Grammaticas. |
HAVE YOUR SAY I highly appreciate the efforts made by Bill Clinton and also Bill Gates to tackle the HIV/Aids epidemic Sunita Mishra Send us your comments | |
But he said that India's successes in other areas augured well for the challenges ahead. | But he said that India's successes in other areas augured well for the challenges ahead. |
"If [Indians] will just apply the same commitment and ingenuity to dealing with this that they did to developing and information technology economy, then they'll have the same results. | "If [Indians] will just apply the same commitment and ingenuity to dealing with this that they did to developing and information technology economy, then they'll have the same results. |
"This is not rocket science. We know what to do," he said. | "This is not rocket science. We know what to do," he said. |
HIV in India has already spread beyond high risk groups such as prostitutes. | HIV in India has already spread beyond high risk groups such as prostitutes. |
Migrant workers who travel from remote villages looking for work in the cities are spreading the virus to every corner of the country, our correspondent says. | Migrant workers who travel from remote villages looking for work in the cities are spreading the virus to every corner of the country, our correspondent says. |
Even a small further increase in infection rate could mean that up to 25 million Indians contract HIV in the coming years. | Even a small further increase in infection rate could mean that up to 25 million Indians contract HIV in the coming years. |
On Thursday, Mr Clinton gave details of a new initiative in which two Indian companies will supply 19 antiretroviral drugs for HIV-infected children at a greatly reduced price. | On Thursday, Mr Clinton gave details of a new initiative in which two Indian companies will supply 19 antiretroviral drugs for HIV-infected children at a greatly reduced price. |
More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV/Aids, the UN says. | More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV/Aids, the UN says. |
The cheap drugs, according to the statement, will be available in 62 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Caribbean. | The cheap drugs, according to the statement, will be available in 62 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Caribbean. |
The Clinton Foundation, set up in 2002, aims to provide technical and financial help to poorer countries struggling to stop the spread of HIV/Aids. | The Clinton Foundation, set up in 2002, aims to provide technical and financial help to poorer countries struggling to stop the spread of HIV/Aids. |
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