NEW DELHI. Sept 8: Indian Health Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai appealed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday to reconsider proposed cuts in its Southeast Aslan budget, reports AFP.

The cuts have come at a time when Southeast Asian regional countries are undergoing economic stress and are looking to the WHO to meet their critical needs." Ezhilmalai said.

The minister was speaking to the 51st meeting of the WHO's Southeast Asia regional com-nfHtee "WHO Chief Gro Harlem Jtaindtlyd hadearMec ad-<1 reused, th< same committee.

Th*WHO saidJn May It was virtually halving its annual budget for Asia to 51 million dollars, causing uproar among the countries concerned.

Thailand said the cut would seriously affect health programmes in 10 Asian countries battered by an economic slump. The affected countries, which include India, are home to one-quarter of the world’s population.

Ezhilmalai called on Brundtland to keep in mind the needs of regional countries while formulating policies on resource allocation.

The WHO chief later yesterday defended the proposed cuts and argued the "budget-re-allo-cations" had become unavoidable because of larger needs in

Africa and Eastern Europe.

"Our last assembly meeting had decided that more funds • were needed for Africa and Europe." she told a news conference.

Europe has changed In the last 10 years and the needs of the former Soviet Union republics have grown. We have also not been giving as much as is required in Africa." she said.

Brundtland. however, said the WHO was looking for avenues to augment its funds through governments, donors and private-sector partnerships.

’ “Brundtland. a former Norwegian prime minister, also reiterated her pledge of extensive reforms in the WHO. which she took over in July.

"1 will see to it what we are both transparent and accountable." she said and added that the WHO would provide more information through greater use of the Internet.

She urged governments to step up the fight against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. "Unless states take more serious efforts we are not going to make any differences.' she said.

"Governments should take AIDS as a major national challenge and not at the level of health ministries but at the level of prime ministers and presidents."