National AIDS Control and Blood Safety Programme

National AIDS Control Programme :

National AIDS Control Programme was Launched in India in the year l987. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) as a separate wing to implement and closely monitor the various components of the programme, The aim of the programme is to prevent further transmission of HIV, to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection and to minimize the socio- economic Impact resulting from HIV infection.

The national strategy has the following components:

establishment of surveillance centres to cover the whole country;

identification of high risk group and their screening; issuing specific guidelines for management of detected cases and their follow-up

formulating guidelines for blood bank, blood product manufacturers, blood donors and dialysis units

information education and communication activities by involving mass media and research for reduction of personal and social impact of the disease

control of sexually transmitted disease; and condom programme.

Blood Safety Programme :

National and State/UTs level Blood Transfusion Councils have been set-up in the country. Professional blood donation has been prohibited in the country since 1st January 1998. Only licensed blood banks are permitted to operate, and voluntary blood donation is encouraged.

The strategy is to ensure safe collection, processing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products. Zonal blood testing centres have been established to provide linkage with other blood banks affiliated to public, private and voluntary sector.

As per national blood safety policy, testing of every unit of blood is mandatory for detecting infections like HIV, hepatitis B. malaria and syphilis.

In the country 1233 blood banks have been licensed to supply blood. 815 blood banks have been modernized with provision of adequate facilities of equipment and development of appropriate manpower, 40 blood component separation units have been established.

Besides district level and small blood banks with independent HIV testing facilities, 154 zonal blood-testing centres and 9 HIV Reference Centres are functioning in the country. HIV Test Kits are supplied upto district level blood banks.