HSCB, a semi-autonomous entity, was established in August 2007 by the government in its bid to control HIV/AIDS. [break]
Sixty percent staffers of the HSCB will lose their jobs after December, and remaining staffers will share similar fate after February, according to Shyam Sundar Mishra, vice-chairman of HSCB.
The board was functioning under the direct financial assistance from donor agencies, including the UK-Department of International Development (DFID). Currently there are 14 members working at the board.
DFID bears the salary of nine staffers. According to Mishra, remaining five staffers are appointed with the assistance from global fund. "They will also lose their jobs after February, as the aid agency has only agreed to give support for the next three month," he said.
More than the jobs, the closure of the board will affect the government´s effort to develop appropriate policies, strategies and plans to strengthen multi-sectored coordination for overall monitoring and evaluation, and mobilizing national and international resources for the effective response to HIV AIDS in the country.
"If the government does not take the matter seriously, the office will be closed soon and the existence of the board will only remain in the register," Mishra added. Minister for Health and Population holds the office of the chairman of the HSCB.
The government only bears administrative expenses of the HSCB, according to Mishra. Though DFID has decided to end its five-year-long financial support to the health programs, it has decided to continue its support to other programs through pool fund. The fund will be used by the health ministry. Though the National Center for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) has been receiving funding from the ministry, it might not provide funds to the HSCB.
The government had established the HSCB after aid agencies pressed for the need of a leading national mechanism. The World Bank had conducted a research and suggested the government to establish the board.
The government has also established other bodies like National Aids Coordination Committee (NACC), National Aids Council (NAC) and Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in a bid to run effective programs to monitor and control the spread of HIV/AIDS.
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