AIDS hampers development and social fabric of nation:Fatmi

Darbhanga, Mar 1 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Human Resources M A A Fatmi today cautioned that growing cases of AIDS were not merely a ''health issue'' but it also adversely affected the social and economic condition of a nation.

After inaugurating the AIDS awareness camp here in Red Ribbon Express--a special train moving across the country to create awareness about the preventive measures to be taken to skip the onslaught of the dreaded disease, Mr Fatmi said that about 43 lakh new HIV positive patients were being detected every year in the country.

'' The awareness about the preventive measures to be taken against AIDS is the only way to fight the menace of the dreaded disease,'' he added.

''The alarming rate of spreading the dreaded disease is no more merely a health problem but it is now affecting the economic and social growth of the country,'' Mr Fatmi cautioned and cited the example of South African country ''Swatiland'' where 70 per cent of the population were affected by AIDS.

'' The alarming number of AIDS cases in Swatiland had not only affected the economic growth but also fractured its social fabric,'' he added.

UNI XC-KKS ADG RD 1813