Runa Laila, the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS Visited India

Runa Laila, the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS visited India from 31 July 2013 to 2 August 2013. The objective of the visit was to extend support to the cause of HIV/AIDS especially on the issues of Stigma and Discrimination related to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV).

Runa Laila from Bangladesh has been conferred the honorary title of SAARC Goodwill Ambassador by SAARC Secretariat till 2015. Apart from her, Ajay Devgan from India as well as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy from Pakistan have also been conferred with this title.

Points discussed during the meeting

• During her meeting, different issues associated with HIV/AIDS for the benefit of marginalised people of the SAARC region were discussed.
• Apart from this, the need for enhanced scale of care, support and treatment services for eligible HIV infected persons and requirement of initiating Regional action to tackle cross border issues on HIV/AIDS and TB/HIV co-infection, was also discussed.
• She had visited the Department of AIDS Control (DAC).
• During the visit, the DAC also made a presentation to Runa Laila on the HIV/AIDS programme in India, highlighting the different interventions being implemented for reversing AIDS.