The Tamilnadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) is planning to set up a centre to collect and disseminate authentic information and statistics on AIDS/HIV, instead of the present system of various social and research agencies in the field coming out with contradictory statistics and findings on the epidemic.

TANSACS is setting up a separate technical research group, which will collect and analyze the data and findings of all the governmental and non-governmental agencies working in the field. Further, the society will set up a resource centre, likely at the Dr.M.G.R.Medical University in Chennai, to disseminate authentic periodic data and results of studies on HIV/AIDS.

Public as well as the press can access to the data and information, which would be authentic, after analyzing the studies of various agencies, according to K.Deenabandhu, Project Director, TANSACS.

The decision to set up the resource centre and technical research group was taken after analyzing the problems at a workshop on AIDS/HIV data, jointly organized by TANSACS and UNICEF which is implementing a Rs.2.5 crore project in TN to educate school children on AIDS, said Deenabandhu.

At present the TANSACS, along with APAC and USAID, co-ordinate with over 20 non-Governmental organizations working in different parts of the state to collect data and prevent the disease with awareness camps and treatment centres. Sources note that ever since the first case of AIDS was reported in the state more than a decade ago, numerous voluntary healthcare agencies and NGOs have entered the field to conduct studies, with and without support of funding agencies. At the end of each study, they come out with their findings, most often contradicting other studies and data. This has created a lot of confusion not only among the public, but also among the health workers and agencies working in the field, mainly due to lack of authentic information.

The new resource centre and technical group would solve this to some extent, hoped TANSACS sources.