New Delhi, July 19: Alarmed by the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases among police and paramilitary personnel, the Centre has decided to convene a national conference next month to chalk out strategies for combating the challenge.
The conference will also take stock of the initiatives taken by the Home Ministry for mainstreaming of paramilitary forces and state police personnel on prevention of HIV/AIDS to ensure successful implementation of the national AIDS control programme.
“Recognising the need for introducing structural changes for an effective response by the police, the ministry has formally endorsed the UNAIDS India recommended strategy for HIV programming with uniformed personnel,” an official said.
Representatives of seven paramilitary forces — CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles — and all state police forces will take part in the meeting.
For prevention of spread of HIV/AIDS among policemen, an action plan has been implemented and a task force constituted for the purpose.
The seriousness to deal with the challenge came following reports of growing number of HIV/AIDS cases in police forces. The CRPF reported 273 full blown cases of AIDS in four years between 2005-08, 78 in 2008 alone.
Besides, the largest paramilitary force reported 1,547 cases of HIV positive in the four-year period — 665 alone in 2008.
–Agencies