Bihar Ministers, Legislators Plan to Undergo HIV Test

To create awareness among the common man about AIDS, the government of the eastern Indian state of Bihar has mooted an idea in which ministers and legislators will voluntarily undergo an HIV test.

Bihar Health Minister Shakuni Chaudhary told PTI "the idea of ministers and legislators undergoing an HIV test has been discussed with Chief Minister Rabri Devi, assembly Speaker Sadanand Singh and a large number of MLAs and MLCs of different political parties and everybody has appreciated it".

The minister said the state government will hold a meeting next month in which the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Speaker and elected representatives will take part to discuss the issue and work out the modalities.

If the idea takes shape, Bihar will be the first state in the world where elected representatives will be tested as part of an awareness campaign against AIDS.

Chaudhary said "although AIDS has not assumed an alarming proportion in the state, we propose to intensify campaign against it among common people, particularly in the rural areas."

Sources in the state AIDS control board said Bihar presently falls in the low prevalence category.

A total of 152 AIDS cases have been detected in the state so far and about 3,500 people were suspected to have been carrying the AIDS virus. 38 people have lost their lives from AIDS so far in Bihar, according to latest figures available with the AIDS control board.

The legislators from both ruling and opposition sides have welcomed the idea and shown readiness to undergo the test.Websites

Push Journal

Press Trust of India