In a landmark decision, the state government has decided to give pension to nearly 43,000 HIV patients in Andhra Pradesh.

Giving this information on the eve of World AIDS Day, State Family Welfare Minister Sambhani Chandrasekhar said that the government is preparing a blueprint for treating the HIV patients at various Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres across the state.

While speaking at a programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) at Ravindra Bharati, Chandrasekhar said that there were only three ART centres in the State earlier but after Congress came to power the number stands at 24. The minister also added that the HIV prevalence rate has also come down from two percent to 0.8 percent in the state. Accordingly, the government will soon be launching new six ART centres in the state.

However, Project Director of APSACS R V Chandravadan said prevalence of AIDS through homosexuals was increasing at an alarming rate in the state. According to the APSACS Project Director, AIDS through homosexuals has gone up to 17 percent.

In order to provide specific information on STIs, condom usage, counseling, HIV testing, care and support, the minister also launched a campaign called `Mee Nestam’. Apart from this, a booklet on the legal rights of HIV effected people was also released by the family welfare minister.