Clinton discusses AIDS with Indian minister

Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and visiting former US President Bill Clinton discussed HIV/AIDs issues here on Wednesday, a health ministry press release said.

They discussed the health situation in India, especially the spread of HIV/AIDS. Clinton appreciated the Indian government's efforts in creating awareness and providing AIDS patients with anti-retroviral treatment, the press release said.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of a meeting on HIV/AIDS.

Ramadoss informed Clinton that as per the latest estimates of the National AIDS Control Organization, the spread of the disease had slowed down.

The number of HIV cases in India had gone up by 28,000 from 5.106 million in 2003 to 5.13 million in 2004. In comparison, there were 520,000 cases in 2002-03.

Clinton arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit during which he will travel to tsunami-hit areas in south India. He is also expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders in New Delhi.

Source: Xinhua