New Delhi: The UK Government today (Oct 5, 2004) said it would step up its support for India's efforts in curtailing the spread of HIV/AIDS and launched a new global strategy for tackling the pandemic.

"India has the world's second highest number of HIV infections, following South Africa, and accounts for 70 per cent of the estimated infections in Asia," UK Minister for International Development Gareth Thomas told reporters in New Delhi.

Though proportion of HIV-infected people in India was not as high as in Sub Saharan Africa, it was still "alarming," he said adding the sheer numbers of vulnerable people in India meant it was a huge challenge for the country.

"But we have a window of opportunity to address the epidemic," he said. Pointing out that the Department of International Development had a long history of supporting India's efforts in combating the spread of HIV he said, "Today we commit to continuing and stepping up that support."

The Department of International Development had recently in an agreement with NACO committed 95 million pounds (Rs 760 crore), including funding to UNAIDS, for the next two and a half years, he said.

The DFID provides financial help through NACO for targeted interventions in five focus States - Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala and Gujarat. It had plans to expand the programme to Madhya Pradesh, he said.