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Political commitment in India for the global quest for an AIDS vaccine received strong support from the highest levels in the government, including the Honourable President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
Political advocacy at the national and state levels has highlighted the fact that India can play a key role in the global search for an AIDS vaccine. Political dialogue and commitment are imperative to ensure speedy and ethical clinical trials; develop an enabling legislation for the development of a safe, effective and accessible vaccine; ensure investments in adequate production capacity; and negotiate pricing and financing mechanisms so that the AIDS vaccine is available to all.
National Level
Parliamentarians Briefing
To ensure political commitment towards HIV/AIDS and preventive vaccines, regular formal and informal interactions are held with parliamentarians on a one-to-one basis or through group interactions. See photo gallery
Presidential Address
In his special address to Parliament on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006, former President of India, Dr Kalam pointed out that “prevention of the spread of HIV” was the “most important mission for the country today”. For this, he added, there was “no other way” apart from “developing and leading to production an effective anti-HIV vaccine”. Dr Kalam made specific mention of the progress made in the two clinical trials, in Pune and in Chennai, being conducted by IAVI and its partners in India.
Global Political Advocacy Movement
- Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science & Technology and Ocean Development, India, and an IAVI Board member, is spearheading the Global Political Advocacy Initiative (GPAI), a multi-pronged effort to mainstream an AIDS vaccine policy as a key agenda of developing countries in various global forums. GPAI will be the most visible extension of the country's political commitment to the programme.
- At the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in October 2007, Finance Ministers from India, the United Kingdom and South Africa, gathered in an unprecedented satellite meeting to express their support for an intensified search for new vaccines to prevent AIDS and other major infectious diseases. The ministers agreed that more needs to be done to expand financing for vaccine research and development (R&D). They proposed forming a working group of government representatives and technical experts to explore the optimal mix of financing mechanisms. The meeting was called on the initiative of Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, is a significant milestone. This meeting was initiated by IAVI.
- It was in some measure due to the behind the scenes work of IAVI and its GPAI mission that HIV/AIDS and the vaccine issue have been brought on the IBSA – India-Brazil-South Africa -- agenda. At the IBSA heads of government summit held in Brasilia from September 13 to 15, 2006, the three national leaders agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation in a host of public health areas, “including vaccines to prevent HIV and AIDS”.
This brought to fruition a 15-month process that began in June 2005, when the science and technology ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa met in Rio and formally recognised the “importance of science and technology in the development of their countries, in the effort to eradicate poverty and promote social inclusion”. The ministers pledged to the “beginning of trilateral work” to focus on, among other areas, “HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria”.
Through this period, and in all follow-up meetings, IAVI provided technical inputs and urged the IBSA countries – three of the most advanced developing countries – to take on a leadership role in the AIDS vaccine arena.
- IAVI continues to work with new champions and adherents. In November 2006,
Shri B.J. Panda, MP, participated in and addressed IAVI-GPAI brainstorming meetings in New York and London. He spoke on leveraging India’s economic and trade relationships, and using these to garner political support from China and the ASEAN countries for an AIDS vaccine.
Political Meetings of IAVI Board of Directors
In December 2002, the IAVI Board of Directors consulted with President APJ Abdul Kalam, and former prime minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and informed them about the vaccine programme. The hour-long round-table discussion convinced those present of the significance of the AIDS vaccine programme. In a significant gesture, the President Kalam mentioned his discussion with IAVI Board of Directors
in his address to the nation on Republic Day eve
on January 25, 2003 and called for a time-bound and accelerated AIDS vaccine programme.
Parliamentarians Conference at Bangkok
Parliamentarians from the six high prevalence states of India participated in a conference in Bangkok, held in collaboration with the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development in October 2003. Members of Parliament from Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States signed the "Bangkok Declaration" and pledged to inform, educate, communicate and develop strategies to promote vaccines along with other effective AIDS prevention initiatives.
International Policy-makers Conference
This conference was held on May 11-12 2002, in New Delhi in collaboration with ICMR and NACO. Inaugurated by the then prime minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it was addressed by the president of the Indian National Congress, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, former Union health minister Dr C P Thakur and chief ministers of three high-prevalence states - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Delegates and speakers included Members of Parliament from eight nations, academics, representatives from international organisations and prominent media persons. See photo gallery
State Level
Meetings with State Legislators
Regular meetings are conducted with state legislators in the six high prevalence states India to inform and sensitise them on key issues related to HIV/AIDS and preventive vaccines. The objectives of these meetings is to provide legislators with facts, data and analytical research by experts on HIV/AIDS and preventive vaccines in order to create a core group of informed legislators who can influence policymaking at the state level. These interactions have also helped identify local political leaders committed to support the programme. See photo gallery
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