Over 10,000 people in K'taka affected by AIDS: Minister

Bangalore, Feb 19 (UNI) As many as 10,589 people have contracted the dreaded AIDS in Karnataka till November 2006, State Health Minister R Ashok informed the Legislative Council today.

Replying to a question raised by Mr Marthibbe Gowda (Ind), he said the tiny district of Udupi accounted for most of the incidences with 1,804 patients.

The Minister said there was no separate State health centre offering treatment for AIDS, but 13 district hospitals were providing Anti Retroviral treatment (ART). The Government had taken up vigorous campaign to create awareness about HIV/AIDS. The Government would set up a centre of excellence at the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital here to provide ART to AIDS afflicted children.

Mangalore (1,679), Belgaum (1,620), Bangalore Urban (1,483), Davanagere (1,010) and Dharwad (662) were among the districts with high prevalance of AIDS. Madikeri and Chamarajanagar (10 each), Bidar (17), Bijapur (20), Koppal (32) and Chitradurga (42) recorded less number of AIDS patients.

UNI