Vedanta to open counselling, training centre for AIDS

The Pioneer, Dec 3, 2008

Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh has become the first private-sector industrial house in the State to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) to combat HIV/AIDS. As per the MoU, the dispensary at the Vedanta Nagar Rehabilitation Colony at Niyamgiri will act as an Integrated Counselling and Training Centre (ICTC) under a public-private partnership arrangement between the company and the OSACS.

The ICTC will deliver quality counselling and testing support to those coming to the centre voluntarily, according to Chief Medical Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, Dr Sabita Swain. The OSACS will provide test kits for testing and training to doctors and paramedical staff for delivering counselling and testing services to all stakeholders as per guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

“This will set a new trend in Orissa’s fight against the global epidemic. The community members in our periphery, truckers and migrant workers shall be benefited by the ICTC,” said Vedanta Aluminium CEO Dr Mukesh Kumar.