Shimla: With plans to bring all those infected with AIDS under BPL category, health minister Rajeev Bindal disclosed that there were 5198 HIV positive cases in Himachal of which 1401 were AIDS patients.
Speaking at a national seminar in Delhi on Monday, the minister claimed that effective awareness campaign had brought down the HIV positive infected rate from 2.4 to 0.8 percent.
Lahaul-Spiti, the largest district by area but also one with the least population had not reported any HIV or AIDS till date, he said.
Children of AIDS infected persons were being provided financial assistance for pursuing education and there were as many as 1478 of them, he added.
The government had spent Rs 1 crore in 2010-11 on welfare of AIDS patients which included providing travelling allowance to 660 persons along with attendants for availing treatment.
Three 10 bedded Community Health Centres had been opened for HIV/AIDS patients and the government is considering providing employment to AIDS patients under MNREGA.
Twelve 12 patients had been provided government employment and such patients were planned to brought under BPL category for permitting them to avail all facilities entitled to the category, said Bindal.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
