A National Council on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is being set up under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's [Images] chairmanship, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

"The council being set up to mainstream HIV/AIDS-related issues in all ministries and departments," she said in a written statement.

"This is a development challenge as it will ensure that the issue is not treated merely as a public health problem," the statement read.

The Union Health Minister would be the co-chairman and the council would include ministers from different ministries, chief ministers and representatives from the society, Lakshmi added. 

The minister added that detailed terms of reference and guidelines were being worked out. 

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