Thursday, April 28 2005 10:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Warning that AIDS was beginning to acquire a "woman's face" as increasing number of them were afflicted by it, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday (Apr 27, 2005) said "complete mobilisation" of society and increased funding were required to fight the dreaded disease.

Annan, on a three-day visit to India, took time off from his schedule to interact with several people living with HIV/AIDS and representatives of NGOs at a round table in New Delhi during which he stressed upon the importance of afflicted people counselling others like them.

"It has been my priority as Secretary General to focus attention on HIV/AIDS and I have tried to get Governments to concentrate on it. We need complete mobilisation of society and the leaders have to lead the fight against AIDS and discrimination related to the disease," he said.

Annan devoted most of the time at the round table, also attended by his wife Nane and Health Minister A Ramadoss, to listening to the views of the participants who were inflicted with the disease.

"It is a very difficult situation for afflicted people ... they are afraid to disclose that they have the disease as they are afraid of being discriminated against," said P Kousalya from Tamil Nadu, who has been living with the disease for a decade.

But Annan said it was vital for patients to "speak out" because "when it comes to HIV/AIDS, silence is death."

Annan said more and more women around the world were being afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

"In fact, in Africa today 50 per cent patients are women. AIDS is beginning to acquire a woman's face," he said.

The UN Secretary General also expressed concern that widows of those who died from the disease were being thrown out of their houses and even blamed for bringing the disease to the family.

Laxmi Bai, a transexual working for AIDS awareness, said her 'hijra' community was "doubly stigmatised as even doctors and nurses are afraid to come near us."

Annan's wife Nane said it was important for religious leaders to also take a lead in raising awareness about the disease.

Outlining the action being taken by the UN to fight the disease, Annan said the world body was working with pharmaceutical companies to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral drugs and convincing them to produce these free in some cases.

However, much more funds would be required to effectively tackle it, he added.

"Though there has been increase in funding for AIDS in the last five years, we still do not have enough money. My estimate is that we need $ 7 to 10 billion every year to maintain our programme for the next five to 10 years."

"But the figures should not frighten Governments as the economic and social cost of not dealing with the disease would be incalculable," he said.

Annan added that the UN General Assembly would meet in June to assess the success of the fight against AIDS.