Kohima: Under a programme initiated by the US president, India will receive an additional amount of 30 million US dollars in 2009 to support an integrated HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programme, a US diplomat said here.

Deputy Director of US Consulate, Kolkata, Moulik D Berkana said the US in 2003 had initiated the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and gave the largest commitment ever by a nation to combat a single disease, and India, received over 166 million USD between 2004 and 2008.

The Deputy Consul General was here in connection with commemoration of World AIDS Day yesterday at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, where the week-long annual Hornbill festival got off to a colourful start.

Through this programme, the US government has already provided 18.80 billion USD and the US Congress authorized up to 48 billion USD for HIV/AIDS funding, he informed.

In his keynote address at the inauguration of a three-day Photos of Hope exhibition, Berkana said the United States had chosen the theme Celebrating Life for special focus this year, and pointed out that the photos exhibited depicted how people courageously celebrate life and prove that seemingly impossible things were possible.

He called upon every one to ensure that there was no stigma attached to PLWHIVs and they get administered with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to live a healthy life.

Source : PTI