UP asks for Rs 10 crore AIDS grant

May 18, 2001

State asks for Rs 10 crore AIDS grant

The Times of India News Service, Friday 11 May 2001

LUCKNOW: The state government has sought financial assistance from

the Centre to cope effectively with the AIDS menace in the state.

Minister for medical and health, Ramapati Shastri, has asked for at

least 10 crore grant in order to implement AIDS control programmes

here. The extra fund, he argued, was needed, in view of the large

population of UP, the minister remarked at the meeting of National

AIDS Committee, organised by NACO in Delhi on Thursday.

The virus is spreading fast in the country, due to illiteracy and

lack of health awareness, the minister pointed out. Men ranging from

the age group of 5 to 45 are being affected most, he added. He also

stressed on the pressing need of concerted awareness drive among the

masses to tackle the issue effectively.

However, UP has no cause to worry, declared Shastri, as the number of

cases detected so far, were quite less as compared to other states.

The state government, he further said, was making all out efforts in

the direction, making a special mention of the family health

awareness campaign launched on April 15. A fortnight of the intensive

drive, according to him, has been immensely successful in educating

the slum dwellers, specially. The target group of truck drivers,

migrant labourers or sex workers are also being approached and

educated, he said. So far, 282 full blown AIDS cases have been

detected in UP.

The minister also suggested that awareness camps should ideally be

organised during winters -- summers being a busy time for the farmers.

Pointing at the troubled spots, the minister said that districts

neighbouring the Indo-Nepal border were found to be more prone to

this virus, due to the mingling of the HIV positive or STD patients

from across the border. However, despite the paucity of funds, the

state has done a commendable job in containing the virus, he offered.

The meeting was presided by CP Thakur, Union minister for family

welfare and attended by his counterparts from all states. Also

present at the meeting were officers from NACO and UPSACS along with

NGOs participating in various projects.

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