Bangalore, Aug 21(UNI) Populations Services International (PSI), a non-profit organisation engaged in assisting the Union and state government to fight against HIV and AIDS, today launched 'Connect' a project aimed at mobilizing public-private partnerships to challenge the life-threatening disease in the state.

Addressing a press conference after launching the project here, PSI Karnataka Director Sanjay Changanti said that the worldwide fight against the HIV/AIDS had been most effective in countries not treating it as the problem of small and marginalized populations.

Stating that some corporate companies in India have lent their helping hand by responding to PSI's initiatives, he said that 'Connect' was aimed at mobilizing public-private partnerships to address HIV/AIDS in Karnataka and Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The project was also financially supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

He said that PSI has also roped in Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Y R Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Karnataka Government in its effort to mobilize assistance from private sector. "The Indian industry can play a significant role in addressing HIV/AIDS and some corporations have begun to understand this and respond by initiating programs for the prevention and care of the disease affected populations".

Mr Chaganti said that the key focus of the project was to mobilize and support companies to implement HIV/AIDS training programs for their own staff as well as to develop a HIV/AIDS work-place policy for their workforce. "Till date we have enrolled 37 companies in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and we aim to reach out to many more" he added.

UNI