The number of HIV and TB-affected persons has declined in Baleswar district due to timely intervention as well as awareness. This was claimed by Sub-Collector Nilu Mohapatra.
Mohapatra, besides stressing on counselling and rehabilitating the HIV affected and extending the benefits under social security schemes for the HIV patients, said the officials working in the fields should ensure that they were getting rice under Annapurna scheme, pension and concession pass in bus and train.
Mohapatra said the trend of declining number of HIV positive patients began since 2014. In 2014 while there were 125 positive patients, the figure slumped to 97 in 2018. 24 patients died of HIV while 69,871 blood samples were tested the same year.
In the meeting, the staff pointed that there were only three technicians in counselling and testing centres while there was no earmarked room for the coordinator.
It was informed that a slump in the number of TB patients too was witnessed in the district. The speakers stressed on the awareness and uninterrupted medications for the patients.
CDMO Bibekananda Das, TB officer Girish Chandra Pati, senior medical officer Anup Kumar Ghosh, District Labour Officer Kuber Behera and district coordinator, AIDS cell, Rashmita Mohanty were present.