6180 soldiers found infected so far
By News Agency of Kashmir,
Jammu : Already anxious over the increasing number of the fratricides thousands of soldiers in the Armed Forces are suffering from AIDS and the graph is increasing yearly.
According to sources total of six thousand one hundred and eight soldiers have been infected by the deadly diseased while the monthly rate varies from 30-40 across the country.
“Despite taking measures by organizing AIDS awareness programmes by the non- governmental organizations and other organizations but the number even goes increasing” sources said adding that increase in number was alarming and can even be proved fatal for Indian armed forces.
Defence ministry spokesman Lt.Col SD Goswami told News Agency of Kashmir that the total number of AIDS cases in three services Army, Navy and Air Force as compiled for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 I s numbering 255.
He said that the Armed Forces have established 10 Immuno Deficiency Centres in selected Military Hospitals.
“These centres provide investigation, treatment and follow up all HIV positive persons in the Armed Forces under the supervision of a physician, dermatologist, pathologist and a public health specialist” he added.
The centres are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities for detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS cases. “In these centres anti-retroviral therapy is provided free to the patient till such time the individual is in service, after which these medicines are supplied through Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme” Goswami further said.
Regular follow up of patients, there close relatives, alongwith education about the illness is also carried, he added.