Patna: Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Saturday said to prevent HIV infection, the health department will be organising 4305 Mega Camps to conduct tests for HIV among the people in the state.
Elaborating the initiatives taken by the health department to prevent the spread of HIV, Pandey said here that Bihar state AIDS control Committee will be holding elimination of mother to child transmission ( EMTCT) camps to provide consultation as well as test for HIV to the expecting mothers, deprived of such facilities across the state.
The Minister said apart from conducting medical tests for HIV infection upon the expecting mothers and their spouse and children of the infected parents, the patients suffering from tuberculosis and kalazar would also be tested for the same.
Pandey said that 7 mega camps would be organised under every Primary Health Centre and added that 4305 Mega camps would be organised in all 38 districts under the monitoring of district civil surgeons.
To make the camps more effective and result oriented the people were being apprised about it through various means.
Reiterating the commitment of the health department to make the state free from HIV, the health minister said for this the HIV infected persons were being referred to ART centres after their identification at ICTC centres where they were being provided with lifetime free medicines.
Stressing the need to sensitize people and the community to prevent, control and manage HIV AIDS, the minister appealed to the people as well as the authorities to avoid discriminating against the infected persons and ensure proper behaviour along with extending all possible assistance to them.
