HIV/AIDS, a major problem faced by BSF

Bangalore, Mar 6 (UNI) The rising cases of HIV/AIDS among Border Security Force personnel has become a major problem for the paramilitary force, with nearly 150 men falling victim to the killer disease last year, BSF Director General A K Mitra said today.

Speaking at a function to inaugurate a newly constructed auditorium at BSF Signal Training School campus here, he said BSF had taken up education on safe sex among the personnel in a big way by involving NGOs and installing condom vending machines in many areas of its operation. The most serious concern was that of the risk of spread of HIV among their family members, he added.

''It is very difficult to assess how many could have been afflicted by HIV. We come to know about the cases mainly when they get hospitalised or die due to the disease. Due to reluctance among the BSF men in our hierarchical set up, all cases are not coming out. This is the reason we are taking the help of NGOs as we hope that the personnel would be more forthcoming with them,'' he said.

UNI