Discussion on HIV/AIDS in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly

March 6, 2007

Dear FORUM,

This is a news item published in a hindi newspaper in Chhattisgarh. Article

published in Navbharat newspaper dated 1st March 2007

The following is the summary of the article published, in Hindi. (this is a

translation).

" Four BJP MLA's, questioned C.G. Health Minister Dr. Krishna Murti Bandhi on

various issues relating to HIV/AIDS during the budget session of the Legislative

Assembly. Shri Devji Patel, MLA accused Health Minister of huge corruption in

the AIDS Control Program in the state and also of patronizing corrupt officials.

The MLA's accused that the number of AIDS patients in the state is constantly

increasing, whereas on the other hand the officers are merely doing work on

paper in the name of AIDS control.

Crores of rupees recieved from Central Government have been wasted in the name

of I.E.C, without any affect. MLA's also accused that there are no facilities

for treatment of AIDS patients in the capital or in any other city of the state.

They further accused that AIDS program has become a grazing ground for Health

Department officials, who have siphoned off crores of rupees from this program.

Shri Devji Patel, MLA questioned the Health Minister, that when the post of

Project Director is to be filled up by an I.A.S. Officer then why has a Joint

Director rank officer been posted as Project Director. Dr. Bandhi gave the

reason of lack of I.A.S. officers in the state for this posting. He mentioned

that the post is being held by a very senior officer from Health Department Dr.

Rajmani.

Dr. Bandhi, in response to the question, accepted the fact that the number of

AIDS cases and HIV positive people has increased, but he stressed that even

after six years of formation of the state it is still a low prevelance state. He

said that this low prevelance status is due to the efforts of C.G. State AIDS

Control Society, where as the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and

Maharashtra are High Prevelance states. He further added that the increase in

number is due to detection of cases as a result of increased access to services

and awareness. He also informed that the ART Center has started funtioning in

the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur. "

Regs,

CG AIDS Group

e-mail: <cgaidsgroup@...>

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