MIL/Merinews.com, Apr 30, 2008. Author:
Thousands of army personnel are reported to be infected by the deadly virus of HIV. This number keeps increasing, which experts believe will pose a serious threat to the country. However, various centres have been established to fight this menace.
Already anxious over the increase in the number of fratricides, thousands of soldiers in the Indian Armed Forces are suffering from AIDS and the number keeps increasing every year, which according to experts will pose a big threat to the country if suitable measures are not taken immediately.
According to sources, total of 6108 soldiers have been reported to be infected by this deadly disease.
“Despite taking measures by organising AIDS awareness programmes by the non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and other organisations, the number of AIDS infected patients keeps increasing,” sources said adding that this increase in number is alarming and can prove fatal for the Indian armed forces.
Defence ministry spokesman, Lt Col SD Goswami, told the News Agency of Kashmir (NAK), “The total number of 255 AIDS cases in three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – for the year 2004, 2005 and 2006 have been reported.”
He said that the Armed Forces had established 10 Immuno Deficiency Centres in some selected military hospitals.
“These centres provide investigation, treatment and follow up all HIV positive persons in the Armed Forces under the supervision of a physician, dermatologist, pathologist and a public health specialist,” he added.
The centres are well equipped with the state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities for detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS cases.
“In these centres, Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) is provided free to the patient till the time the individual is in service, after which these medicines are supplied through Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme,” Goswami further said.
“Regular follow up of patients is carried out and education about the illness is also provided to the patients and their relatives,” he added.
