Delhi Govt to organise AIDS awareness campaign for MPs, MLAs

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The Delhi Government will organise a day- long AIDS awareness workshop for Delhi MPs and MLAs, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced today.

''There are over 2.5 crore people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

The figure is alarming and compels all concerned people to acquire awareness about it. Since the beginning of the epidemic AIDS has killed more than 30 million people,'' Ms Dikshit said after inaugurating 15 new Integrated Counselling&Testing Centre (ICTC) at the Delhi Secretariat today.

She said after the workshop, the MPs and MLAs will be able to sensitise people in their constituencies about the disease.

The Chief Minister said the Delhi Government has taken measures, including inspiring NGO's to make functional 30 targeted interventions to focus on high risk core group, to check its spread.

''Around 1,200 AIDS patients are currently receiving help through free Anti Retroviral Treatment Centre in various hospitals in Delhi,'' she said.

''Apart from focussing on voluntary counselling and Testing Services an initiative has been taken to extend the outreach of these services through mobile vans to cover vulnerable population,'' she added.

The facilities have also been introduced in the university campuses of Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and JNU.

The Chief Minister expressed the hoped that 15 new ICTCs would provide facilities like early detection of HIV, provision of basic information on transmission and prevention of HIV, and link people with other HIV prevention, care and treatment services.

''Adding today's 15 ICTCs, the total number of ICTCs has been increased to 43. If needed, more ICTCs would be opened in future also,'' she added.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri said the Delhi Government is committed to providing better health facilities to its citizens.

The Health Department has already launched 'MITWA' (Mobile Integrated Testing and Wellness Access) Campaign which is an endeavour to provide a comprehensive service, he added.

UNI