Kathmandu, November 24:

Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel said today the government will work with grassroots-level organisations for the effective implementation of programmes aimed at combating HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at a press meet held by the Ministry of Health and Population, the minister said: “Services should be expanded to hospitals of all districts.” “The programmes will be launched through local organisations.”

He said the government has formed an HIV/AIDS and STD Control Development Committee, a semi-autonomous body, to assess and monitor the launching of HIV/AIDS programmes at all levels.

“We have to move ahead by reviewing activities carried out in the past to check AIDS. More strategies will be chalked out to control AIDS.”

Dr Ma Elena Filio-Borromeo, UNAIDS country coordinator, said there should be a strong and committed leadership to achieve the set goals. “In order to control AIDS pandemic, leadership must be demonstrated at every level by individual,” she said.

The 20th World AIDS Day will be observed on December 1 in Nepal by organising programmes with the aim of raising awareness about the disease. The slogan of the day is Take the Lead.