Mandatory HIV test for Bihar police

Patna, Oct 26 (UNI) The Bihar government has decided to make HIV test mandatory for all aspiring police personnel before recruiting them.

Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah said aspiring candidates would also be required to undergo blood test for detection of Hepatitis, blood pressure and blood sugar. ''Anybody found carrying Hepatitis virus or testing HIV would be declared unfit for recruitment in the police forces,'' he added.

The state government was in the process of acquiring an Elisa Reader Machine for police line hospitals which would help monitor the policemen's health status,he disclosed.

''HIV is a matter of concern for us and we want to carry out tests on our forces but will keep the identities of HIV positive personnel a secret,'' the home secretary added.

''Our test will not be in isolation. We have made provision of providing anti-retroviral(ARV) drugs to those who test positive so that onset of full blown AIDS is delayed,'' he clarified.

Six constables had so far tested HIV positive in Patna police lines and their wives had also been found to have similar symptoms, he said adding arrangements were being made to administer ARV drugs as well.

He, however,denied that he had confirmed the positive status of two senior police officers, although reports quoting him in this connection had earlier appeared in a section of the press.

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