News Cubic Studio

Truth and Reality

Uttarakhand : Health Minister flagged off awareness rally in Dehradun, considering reduction in rate of HIV infection as a good sign

Through the Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Committee, programs for the prevention of HIV AIDS are being conducted across the state. After identifying the HIV infected, free medicines and counseling are being made available to them by the government. The HIV positivity rate in Uttarakhand has come down from 0.48 to 0.24 which is a good sign of reduction in HIV infection rate. The state government is conducting HIV AIDS awareness program in the state on the lines of TB-free Uttarakhand campaign. Under which awareness rally and seminars are being organized from district to block level.

State’s Medical Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said this at the inauguration of the awareness rally organized on the occasion of World AIDS Day at Gandhi Park in Dehradun today. He flagged off the awareness rally organized by the Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Committee. On this occasion, Dr. Rawat said that work is being done on a large scale for the prevention of HIV AIDS in the state, which shows that the HIV positivity rate in the state has come down from 0.48 to 0.24, which is a good sign for the state. The departmental minister said that at present 5580 AIDS patients are registered in the state, whose treatment is going on at 7 ART centres. Free counseling and medicines are being made available to the people suffering from HIV by the State Government. He informed that the scope of testing of HIV AIDS infected has been increased, in the year 2015, where 1.5 lakh people were tested, at present 3.5 lakh people were tested for HIV infection. About 900 HIV patients are being registered every year in the state. Dr. Rawat said that the government is serious about HIV infection-free Uttarakhand, for this awareness programs are being conducted on the lines of TB-free Uttarakhand. He said that 164 ICTC centers and 7 ART centers have been established across the state for testing, treatment and counseling of HIV infected. Students of various schools, children of Red Cross Society, NSS and NCC cadets participated in the awareness rally organized on World AIDS Day. During this, the rally passed through Gandhi Park, Ghantaghar, Darshanlal Chowk and ended back at Gandhi Park.

Director Health Dr Bharti Rana, Chairman Indian Red Cross Committee Dr MS Ansari, Secretary Kalpana Bisht, Dr N S Khatri Additional Project Director Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Committee Dr Ajay Kumar Nagarkar, Program Officer USAX Sanjay Singh Bisht, Sunil Kumar Singh, Gagandeep Luthra, D.K. Gupta, Surendra Bisht were present, apart from this social organization Saathi, TI-NGO, Hope and students of Balaji Seva Sansthan, Bharat Scout Guide, NSS and NCC cadets participated.