The patients suffering from AIDS would be provided free ride in the buses of Uttarakhand roadways during their visit to the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres in the State. The patients who are residents of Uttarakhand and are undergoing treatment at ART centres in the State would be provided a pension of Rs 1,000.
These decisions were taken in the meeting of the fourth meeting of State AIDS council held at state secretariat on Wednesday. Chairing the meeting, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat directed the officials that the meeting of the council should be held regularly.
Expressing emphasis on special focus on creating awareness for AIDS, he said that study on reasons of spread of the disease in the State should be done. He said that such a study would help the Government in formulation of plans for control of disease in the State. The CM directed the officials that one nodal officer in every department, institution and organisation should be appointed.
He declared free ride in buses of Uttarakhand roadways for AIDS patients when they visit ART centres and said that pension would be provided to the AIDS patients who are residents of State and are registered in ART centres.
He suggested that the number of doctors in the national AIDS control programme should be increased to make it more effective and said that the doctors appointed on contract would be provided remuneration like other doctors.
He clarified that the State Government is ready to bear additional financial burden for it.
Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat said that use of infected syringes by the drug users is one of the major causes of AIDS among the youth. He also underlined the importance of the awareness campaigns in the colleges, schools and universities to fight the disease.
The Minister also said that the police department should also undertake anti drug campaigns to reduce the menace of the disease.
The health secretary Nitesh Jha, Secretary in charge, B K Sant, additional secretary Yugal Kishore Pant and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
