PATNA: Alarmed by the rising cases of HIV positive patients in Bihar, a high profile meeting of members of both the Houses of the State Legislature and those connected with AIDS awareness programme has been called to discuss ways and means for a more forceful drive against the dreaded disease, official sources said on Sunday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the day-long brainstorming session on June 24 here, the sources said.

Top officials of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and various international bodies including UNAIDS and UNICEF are expected to participate in the meet. According to the latest figures, 8211 people in Bihar are HIV positive. This is in addition to 1100 full blown AIDs cases in the State.

When contacted Health Secretary Deepak Kumar said that a group of legislators would be formed in the meeting for launching a vigorous awareness drive against the disease.

The legislators would be told about various dos and don'ts about the disease and asked to spread them among the masses in their constituencies, he said.

Acting secretary of the State Assembly Braj Kishore Singh said the chairman of the Assembly and the Council will address the session.

An exhibition on AIDS will also be organised on the day and the legislators will be provided with HIV campaign literature for propaganda in their constituencies, he added.- PTI

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