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RIGHT TO HEALTH
the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National AIDS Control Organization
(NACO) and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). They were considered by the
Commission in consultation with the experts on the NHRC’s Core Group on Health.
Thereupon, the Commission decided to seek full details of methodology and operational
plan of the proposed HIV Vaccine Trial. The Commission proposes to pursue the matter
further.
6.22 Towards the end of the reporting period under review, the Commission designated
Justice Smt Sujata V. Manohar, Member of the Commission as the Focal Point on HIV/
AIDS related matters in the Commission.
6.23 With a view to spreading awareness about Human Rights and HIV/AIDS, the
Commission proposes to bring out a brochure/booklet on the subject. The Commission
is also considering a proposal to produce a short duration film entitled, “HIV/AIDS – myth
and reality” from a Human Rights perspective. Efforts are underway to produce this film
jointly with the Doordarshan with a view to create public awareness on the issue.
H] Maternal Anaemia and Human Rights
6.24 It had been mentioned in the annual report for the year 2002 – 2003 that the
Commission had organised a two-day Workshop on Health and Human Rights, with
special reference to maternal anaemia in the year 2000, in partnership with the Department
of Women and Child Development and UNICEF. The recommendations of this Workshop
were subsequently also conveyed to the concerned Ministries of the Central Government
for appropriate action. It was also reported that the Commission received replies from
various Departments, except from the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy,
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The details of these
responses were also reported in the annual report for the year 2002-2003.
6.25 The Commission took up the matter with the concerned Department of the Ministry
of Human Resource Development, Government of India, inter-alia, to find out the followup action taken by them on the recommendations that emanated from the workshop
organised by it. The Commission held a meeting with the Secretaries of the Department
of Family Welfare, Health, Women and Child Development and others, on the issue of
Primary Health Care in August and in October, 2003. It was decided that a Regional
Consultation on Primary Health Care in India would be organised in collaboration with
these Ministries. Further the Commission has decided to organise a series of Public
Hearings on Primary Health. The Commission intends to pursue this important issue
in the proposed Public Hearings as well as in the Regional Consultation to be held on
Primary Health Care.
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION