Shimla, (PTI) : Himachal Pradesh has been praised by the World Bank for running "effective and focused" programmes to check HIV/AIDS in the state, which has witnessed a surge in the number of positive cases in the last three years.

A six-member team of the World Bank, which had toured the state recently, assessed the HIV/AIDS control measures in different parts of the state and praised the state government for running "effective and focused" programmes in this direction, Director Health Sulakshna Puri told PTI today.

The state has also won accolade from National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in this regard, Puri, who is also the Project director of the State AIDS control society, said.

Particularly impressed with the transparency in financial monitoring of the AIDS programmes in HP, the NACO said the tiny Himalayan state should serve as a "pilot site" for other states, she added.