Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120250030100.htm

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Pension announced for HIV/AIDS patients

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: More than 40,900 HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving free anti-retroviral therapy would be given pension shortly, Health and Family Welfare Minister S. Chandrasekhar announced here on Monday. He launched ‘Mee Nestam’ IEC campaign, integrated counselling and testing centres under public-private partnership in private nursing homes and hospitals, to mark the World AIDS Day.

The Minister said around 23 lakh people -- including 5.5 lakh in the State -- in the country were living with HIV/AIDS. Various measures initiated by the administration had brought down the HIV prevalence rate from 1.78 to 0.8 per cent in the State.

Lauding the AP AIDS Control Society (APSACS) initiatives, he said the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and other States wanted to replicate the schemes. Mr. Chandrasekhar released a booklet on legal rights of PLHA and initiated a programme for STD treatment through 1,200 private STD practitioners.

Stating that the ART centres were increased from three to 24 in the State, he said plans were afoot to launch more. The IEC campaign sought to provide district specific information on RTIs, STIs, condom usage, counselling, HIV testing, care, ART treatment and addressed stigma and discrimination.

Counselling centres

R.V. Chandravadan, APSACS Director, said 40 ART link centres would be started in a couple of months, besides integrated counselling and testing centres in 194 PHCs. One hundred more STD clinics would be opened under the PPP mode this year.