Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has increased its funding commitment to Avahan, an initiative to reduce the spread of HIV in India to a total of $338 million.

Launched in 2003 by the Gates Foundation, Avahan provides funding and support to targeted HIV prevention programmes in six Indian states and along the national truck routes.

Earlier the Foundation has sanctioned $258 million to Avahan which has helped several partners including government agencies and more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to significantly expand access to HIV prevention. Every month, Avahan-supported programmes provide scores of people with risk-reduction counselling, access to condoms, treatment for sexually-transmitted infections and other prevention services.

"Our collaboration with Avahan has made it possible to reach far more people with proven HIV prevention interventions," said K Sujatha Rao, secretary and director general of NACO. "This strong partnership will continue as key aspects of Avahan transition to the government in the coming years."

While it is too early to fully assess Avahan's impact on HIV risk behaviours and infection rates, the early signs are encouraging. Data from some of Avahan's target areas suggest that sex workers have become more likely to use condoms, and that rates of sexually transmitted infections have decreased among people at risk. Several independent studies are underway to help evaluate Avahan's long-term impact. It will provide financial and technical support to ensure that prevention programmes can be sustained over time. It has already awarded more than $100 million in grants for this transition.

Bill Gates who is in India to receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development on behalf of the Gates Foundation is being recognized for pioneering and philanthropic work around the world and in India for health.

As of July 2009, the foundation has committed nearly $1 billion for health and development projects in India. Globally it has committed approximately $11.95 billion in grants for global health.