Strategy to prevent HIV positivity among migrants

[Guest guest]

NEW DELHI: A strategy to tackle the increasing trend of HIV positivity among

migrants is being put in place, particularly in the States that reported high

levels of out-migration.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said this at a meeting

of the consultative committee on Health and Family Welfare to discuss the

HIV/AIDS prevention programme here on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan, where out-migration was high, needed

to be watched carefully.

A significant number of people belonging to the high risk groups, including

truckers and migrants, were reached through targeted interventions.

This method had proved successful in bringing down the prevalence of HIV in the

southern States, Mr. Azad pointed out.

Declining trend

The HIV epidemic has seen some stabilisation with adult prevalence now estimated

at 0.31 per cent, compared to 0.36 per cent in 2006. The six high-risk States

had shown a declining trend.

Mr. Azad said a total of 143.8 lakh clients, including 61.2 lakh expecting

mothers, were counselled at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres

across the country in 2009-10.

For people with HIV-AIDS, 64 new anti retroviral therapy (ART) centres were

established in the last one year and 89,000 patients were receiving free ART

treatment.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/26/stories/2010082653422200.htm