Telangana aims for zero HIV deaths

Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister T Rajaiah stressed on wiping out AIDS in Telangana. Speaking on the occasion of World AIDS Day on Monday, he said that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had announced Rs 1,000 for HIV infected people.

The nutrition pack that is being given to persons affected with HIV would be doubled, he said. At present rice, dal, jaggery, wheat flour and other items totalling 60 kg is being provided.

The deputy chief minister also expressed concern that Telangana occupies the fourth position in the country when it comes to the number of HIV positive cases. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka are the top three states in HIV cases.

“We will fight for zero deaths through HIV in the State,” he said.

The Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) will be strengthening the screening in the State by setting up new centres for men. At present it is only pregnant women who are being tested in the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Centre (PPCTC). A senior official of APSACS said that the exact number of AIDS patients is difficult to ascertain as men are not being screened.

The objective for this year is to spread awareness among men in the society to get tested and special centres would be set up by the government. Free health testing centres would be set up in colleges and in corporate offices.

Earlier in the day, a rally was taken out from Nizam College Grounds to Lalita Kala Thoranam. About 2,000 people comprising commercial sex workers, transgenders and students participated. Telugu film actor Nani took part in the rally.

In another rally, about 100 NSS volunteers and students from government schools and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) pledged to campaign in the villages of Indranagar and Ambedkar Nagar where they would conduct special camps and educate people on AIDS and how to take preventive measures.

The NSS volunteers also conducted an awareness campaign in the Tellapur Government School.