HIV test to be compulsory for new military recruits

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HIV test to be compulsory for new military recruits

Monday September 12 2005 00:00 IST

IANS

PUNE: Terming the disease as " virus enemy number one " , the Indian

armed forces will make testing for HIV/AIDS compulsory for new

recruits in all the three wings from Oct 1.

" Today the armed forces considers the HIV virus enemy number one

and, therefore, AIDS/HIV testing for all new recruits to the navy,

army and the air force will be made mandatory from Oct 1, " said the

Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Surgeon Vice

Admiral Vijay K. Singh.

" This is one of the most effective ways to keep the armed forces

free from the scourge and keep it fit for combat at all times, "

Singh said on the sidelines of a national conference on

environmental medicine at the Armed Forces Medical College here,

adding that " the armed forces would use all its might to eliminate

the enemy " .

India is the second highest HIV-affected country in the world after

South Africa.

Singh said 96 centres were operational all over the country to carry

out testing on nearly 100,000 fresh recruits annually. The Armed

Forces Medical Services would also set up an additional 30 testing

centres, he said.

Asked about the extent of AIDS/HIV prevalence in the forces, the

medical service chief, without divulging figures, said preventive

methods had reduced the spread drastically.

Singh said that under the leadership of Admiral Arun Prakash, all

wings of the armed forces had been campaigning to wipe out the

disease from the ranks and file.

A two-and-half hour feature film " Dastak " (Knock) is being screened

in all units since last year to spread awareness and has proved

effective, he said.

Singh said top priority was given to administer anti-retroviral

drugs to treat freshly detected HIV cases in the armed

forces. " Early detection and treatment will help contain the

disease, " he added.

Singh said those armed forces units going abroad on various

assignments and those returning home would also be made to take HIV

tests. Regular and stringent testing is being carried out in AIDS-

prone areas like the northeast and border areas to combat the

disease.

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