Minister moots law against HIV/AIDS discrimination

Kochi, Sep 5 (UNI) Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said a law should be enacted to stop discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients in the country.

Addressing a gathering here yesterday, the Minister said a law should be enacted to stop discrimination against HIV/AIDS affected people in schools and offices and a Bill to this effect would put forward in the next Parliament session.

The Minister was attending a function to distribute financial aid of Rs 15,000 each to 51 HIV positive children under the Global Kerala Initiative -- 'Keraleeyam.' Despite the earnest efforts of the Centre to stop the spread of AIDS in the country, the dreaded disease was quite rampant in the age group of 15 to 25.

The government was giving free treatment to around 10,000 HIV-affected children in the country and plans were on to open more community care centres to provide effective care to the affected people.

Mr Ramadoss also stressed the importance of AIDS awareness programmes in schools and colleges in stopping the spread of the scourge.

UNI MA GM VA DS1611