Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has announced that every year, December 01 is observed as 'World AIDS Day'. The company is organising a first of its kind "WALKATHON '06" in Mumbai, on December 01.

India has now emerged as one of the global hotspots for the disease with more than 5.7 million people currently estimated to test positive for HIV/AIDS. It is believed that if the epidemic is left unchecked, it could reach un-manageable proportion and lead to huge health challenges.

Being a global pharmaceutical major, the company strongly felt that Generic Anti Retroviral (ARVs) are essential in fighting the worldwide struggle against HIV/AIDS, and therefore took a conscious decision to provide high quality drugs accessible in India and also other afflicted countries at affordable costs way back in 2001.

The company offers a large portfolio of ARV medicines for the afflicted and as a result, over 200,000 patients in over 50 countries including India, Africa, Latin America, CIS and Asia benefit from the company's ARVs. The company's ARVs have been used as mainstays in various large treatment programmes, both national and NGO institutional with good results.

Given its involvement with the global fight against AIDS, the company strongly felt that besides making the drugs available, it is equally important to focus on advocacy programmes to generate awareness and empathy about the disease and its patients and work towards dispelling the myths, stigmas and ignorance.

The company is organising "WALKATHON '06" in Mumbai, on December 01, for the first time in India, doctors cutting across their specialty will walk together in order to express their solidarity with the cause - the Fight against AIDS.

A N Roy, commissioner of police, Mumbai, will flag-off the historical 3km Walkathon from the NCPA grounds at 7.30am, which would stretch across the "Queen's Necklace". The Walkathon will terminate back at the NCPA ground. The event will conclude with a valedictory function by the chief guest Padmabhushan Nana Chudasama, leading activists and ex Sheriff of Mumbai.

The Walkathon symbolises the company's efforts to address the social dimensions of AIDS and create awareness amongst the public and the medical fraternity alike, in fighting the global struggle against the HIV/AIDS.

Speaking on the novel concept of WALKATHON '06 Dr D G Saple, Hon director and principle co-ordinator HIV/AIDS clinical research programme human healthcare and research foundation, doing work on AIDS since 1988 in Mumbai, said "

The company also announced that the company has recently introduced paediatric ARV medicines, Virolans Kid and Virolans Kid DS (both triple ARV combinations for children) in India. These products are designed to deliver three ARV drugs together, in recommended strengths and simplify delivery of a more accurate treatment to children in resource poor settings.