The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tamil Nadu tops in number of HIV tests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tamil Nadu tops in number of HIV tests

Special Correspondent

10.4 lakh people tested at 750 counselling, testing centres

INTERACTION: V.K. Subburaj, Health Secretary, with lab technicians at the inauguration of a training programme in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: M.Vedhan

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu stands first among the States for testing the maximum number of people for HIV at voluntary counselling and testing centres, Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said on Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu tested the maximum number of 10.4 lakh people at 750 voluntary counselling and testing centres during 2006-2007. This figure was almost double the number tested during the previous year (5.5 lakh), he said, addressing a training programme for laboratory technicians held at the Stanley Hospital here.

Over 400 technicians, working in the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres for HIV and Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission programmes, would be trained in performing blood tests for conditions other than HIV, including Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis.

Mr. Subburaj stressed the need for periodic training for lab technicians and other paramedical professionals.

Another 350 technicians would undergo training in Madurai, N. Rajakumar, head, department of Transfusion Medicine, Stanley Hospital, said.

The three-day programme would be held in batches of 20 each.

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