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Himachal Government to support AIDS orphans

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Government has started an ambitious programme for the welfare of the AIDS orphans by providing financial assistance to children losing parents due to the deadly disease. Financial assistance of up to Rs.700 is provided to AIDS orphans for education and basic requirements, Project Director of State AIDS Control Society S. Puri said on Sunday.

The financial assistance is provided up to the age of 15 under different age categories to lessen burdens on such families and help children stand on their feet, she said. The scheme started in the hill State in December last, Ms. Puri said.

The project director said according to the scheme even in the case of death of one of the parents due to AIDS, the children are treated as AIDS orphan and provided the benefits. Funds have been made available through health directorate to the Chief Medical Officer in the districts to provide benefits to the eligible children, she said.

The State AIDS Control Society monitors the functioning of the scheme across the State, Ms. Puri added.

Himachal Pradesh has thousands of HIV positive people for whom the State Government is already providing free medical treatment at a special AIDS ward in the reputed Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla. The facility has also been extended to their children.

The State Government also provides free travelling facilities to the AIDS and HIV positives along with one attendant to visit IGMC for treatment, Ms. Puri said. — PTI

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