Free testing, counselling for HIV in Haryana
Chandigarh | Tuesday, Dec 1 2009 IST
 

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said a new Blood Component Separation Unit (BCSU) would be set at Faridabad and a blood bank would be established at Mewat during 2010-11.

In a message here today on the occasion of World AIDS Day, Mr Hooda said the Haryana government was providing free services for testing of HIV and counselling up to the level of Community Health Centre (CHC) in the state.

Mr Hooda urged the people not to discriminate against those suffering from HIV or AIDS as they also had the right to live their lives. He also stressed the need for launching a mass movement to create awareness about HIV and AIDS.

Health Minister Geeta Bhukkal said the Haryana AIDS Control Society (HACS) was implementing the HIV/AIDS Control Programme in the State. She urged the people to take preventive measures.

She said that 84 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) had been established in the state and these included four in medical colleges, 20 in district hospitals and 60 in CHCs and Sub-district hospitals to provide free testing and counselling facilities. Well trained counsellors and laboratory technicians were posted in these centres and they were providing free counselling and testing services to voluntary clients and also patients being referred from other departments.

Over 4.14 lakh persons had so far availed of the counselling services and more than 3.45 lakh were tested and 12,343 were found HIV positive in general ICTCs till September 2009.

At present, 56 licensed blood banks were functional in Haryana.

These comprised 16 in government sector, one in Red Cross at Panipat, two in military hospitals and 37 in private sector.

-- (UNI) -- 01DR28.xml

 

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