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Plea to table HIV bill

BERHAMPUR: Tabling of the proposed HIV bill in Parliament would ensure a proper life for HIV-positive people in the country, opined participants in a seminar organised in the city in support of the HIV bill on Saturday.

This seminar was organised by the Action Aid and ISRD. It was attended by by union minister of state, Chandrasekhar Sahu, Ganjam zilla parishad president, Dharanidhar Behera, social and political activists. Most participants were in favour of the HIV bill getting passed in Parliament.

It may be noted that Ganjam district was the most HIV-prone area of Orissa and it had 40 per cent of the HIV positive people of the State. It was decided to send as many post cards as possible to the Health Ministry from the district in support of the HIV bill.

Mr Sahu accepted that ensuring human rights of those living with HIV was still a problem in areas like Ganjam due to social stigma and discrimination. “Yet, providing them access to treatment and services remains a challenge as the lack of awareness and non-availability of services still affect the measures being taken for these people,” he said. The bill is being considered by the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Control Organization.

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