HIV/AIDS in Defence Forces

[Guest guest]

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony's Statement on HIV/AIDS in

Defence Forces at the LOK SABHA

The incidence of HIV positive cases in the Armed Forces during the

last 5 years has shown declining trend from 501 cases in the year

2001 to 377 cases in 2006.

The Armed Forces Medical Services have an elaborate HIV /AIDS control

programme, which includes the following:

(a) Health education of the troops and their families.

( Surveillance of High Risk Groups such as blood donors,

patients of sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis patients,

ante natal cases, personnel proceeding abroad in peace keeping

missions and returning from there.

© Hundred percent screening of all ante natal cases.

(d) Hundred percent screening of all blood / blood products of

HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and Malaria.

(e) Encouraging voluntary counselling and testing.

(f) Spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS through audio-visual

means.

The Armed Forces Medical Services are running a comprehensive

prevention and control programme of HIV / AIDS is close coordination

with the National AIDS Control Organisation and United Nations AIDS

Programme.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in

a written reply to Shri Bansagopal Choudhury and Shri Sunil Khan in

Lok Sabha today

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=31123