HIV/AIDS rally in Lucknow to demand ACT to protect their rights

Lucknow, Aug 27 (UNI) In order to put pressure on the Centre for early introduction of HIV/AIDS bill in Parliament for the rights of the affected people, Indian Network for People Living (INPL) with HIV/AIDS will hold a rally here on August 31.

The rally will be attended by several HIV/AIDS affected people of the country along with the organisations fighting for their cause.

The proposed bill, pending for introduction in Parliament since 2003, protects the life of the HIV/AIDS patients with criminal offence if they are neglected.

The Act will also punish those who ignore them and their children in any walk of life.

The organising committee national general secretary K K Ibrahim here today said there was no law to protect the rights of these people which led to severe harassments.

Recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, had suspended two doctors of Meerut for refusing the delivery of a HIV infected pregnent women, while the husband had to deliver his child.

Mr Ibrahim said at present, most of the state ignored the norms of the National AIDS Control Society due to lack of stringent law.

''There are several complaints of non-availability of medicines to the HIV/AIDS patients,'' he further said.

The proposed bill drafted by several organisations working for the HIV/AIDS patients, was presently being examined by the Union Law Department.

UNI