PartnersGF -2005-04-19
Q&A: Dr Quraishi, Project Director of Indias National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)
HDN Key Correspondent
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(April 2005)
Dr S Y Quraishi is the Project Director of Indias National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Speaking with Health and Development Networks earlier this month (during the recently held ASICON-2005 Conference in New Delhi) he gave an update about the composition and working of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in India.
HDN: Have there been significant changes in the composition of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) as a result of the recent decision by the Global Fund board?
Dr Quraishi: All the CCM expectations as raised by the Global Fund board have been fulfilled one was to make it more broad-based. There is currently more representation on the CCM by the civil society and NGOs. People living with HIV/AIDS have been given a prominent position. The leadership role in the CCM is shared by the Indian Network of People living with HIV/AIDS Mr KK Abraham, President INP Plus, has been appointed as the vice-chairperson of the CCM.
HDN: Are civil society organizations represented on the CCM? Is it a meaningful participation or is it tokenistic?
Dr Quraishi: Civil society organizations/NGOs representing different regions of the country north, south, east, west and north-eastern region are now part of CCM. As all NGOs cannot become members, my suggestion is that there should be a federation of NGOs which should democratically choose the NGOs as their representatives in the CCM thus making the process more transparent. Presently there is also involvement from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Participation of all these members is very meaningful. The vice-chairperson Mr KK Abraham, very often, efficiently chairs the CCM sessions in the absence of the Chairperson Mr PK Hota, Health Secretary.
HDN: Only six states in the country are designated as 'high prevalence'. It is understood that 'low-prevalence' states are not getting sufficient attention, adequate representation in the CCM and priority for funding?
Dr Quraishi: We want to involve the whole nation; AIDS will now be tackled through a multi-sectoral methodology. This paradigm shift incorporates adoption of a mission mode, reclassification of states from 'low prevalence' to 'highly vulnerable' states. Fourteen states of India have been classified as 'highly vulnerable' and twelve states as 'vulnerable' to HIV. These states do not come in the category of 'high prevalence', but are 'highly vulnerable' because of the large number of migrant population. States from five different parts of India will now be represented in the CCM by rotation.
HDN: The GFTAM should effectively address all the three epidemics HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. It seems that there is no representation from affected communities of TB and Malaria and no spokesperson for Malaria in the current CCM composition?
Dr Quaraishi: It is true that all diseases need to be represented and there are ongoing discussions about this. The concern being that TB and Malaria are curable diseases to have a person affected with TB and Malaria may not be practical, as they may have had the disease earlier and are cured now. But organizations/ NGOs working with TB or Malaria are welcome to contact us and be part of the process. There is some representation for TB and the TB association of India in the CCM represents NGOs working with vulnerable populations.
HDN: Countries such as Russia have chosen to have sub-national CCMs. Do you think that this can be emulated by India, given its large size where a sub-national CCM would be able to elicit added civil society participation and generate proposals relevant to the needs of the community?
Dr Quaraishi: At present there is no evident need for a sub-national CCM for India. But in future when the work is expanding, we may consider working towards it.
HDN: Previously a need was noted for a CCM Secretariat to facilitate the work of the CCM and to be a focal point for internal and external communications? Could you please give an update about the Secretariat process for the CCM in India?
Dr Quaraishi: There is ongoing planning for a Secretariat for the CCM. The Global Fund has not provided any funding for the efficient running of a Secretariat for the CCM. There is continuous work involved in the day-to-day functioning of the CCM organizing meetings, planning agenda and communications. The Secretariat is being planned with assistance from international partners USAID, DFID, WHO.
HDN: What is the oversight role of the CCM regarding monitoring Fund disbursement?
Dr Quaraishi: CCM is periodically monitoring fund disbursement. We regularly review the performance of the various rounds of Global Fund proposals.