Mangaluru, Dec 13: Minister for Health and Family Welfare UT Khader said that a single-window system would be introduced within a month to provide housing facilities, monthly rations, nutritious food and healthcare facilities for BPL families affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to reduce discrimination towards such families.
Mr Khader interacted with HIV infected persons and affected families at an interaction programme organised by Prajna Counselling Centre in the city on Saturday, where several infected persons from the district shared their difficulties and problems faced by them with the minister.
A number of HIV infected women grieved that they had not received homes which had been sanctioned for them.
Manoj (name changed) grieved that there was no facility for HIV +ve patients for primary or taluk health centres in the district. œOur health cards were cancelled and treatment is not available for us at primary health centres. While the gram panchayat says that houses have been sanctioned for HIV affected families, we are yet to receive a house. As a single infected mother, our income is not sufficient to cover the house rent, electricity bills, children's education fees and nutritious food, she complained.
œGive our children a good future, appealed Saroja (name changed) with the health minister. œMost of the women gathered here are widows. Being HIV +ve, we are unable to work for our livelihood. How can we look after our health and pay for our children's education in such a condition? she grieved.
Kavya (name changed) grieved that doctors and nurses in every hospital discriminated against her and other HIV-infected patients. œI have stopped visiting the primary health centres and hospitals due to this discrimination. Doctors and nurses discriminate against my family and even refuse treatment on occasions when they realise we are infected with HIV. It is very depressing and discouraging, she said.
Mr Khader said that there was no opportunity for discrimination on grounds of being infected with HIV in taluk level hospitals and primary health centres. He requested the affected families to immediately inform the concerned government or taluk officials where there was such discrimination.
He also said that the district administration would be directed to identify land as soon as possible and hand it over to the beneficiaries. District-level interactions will be held in the presence of health officials, deputy commissioner, Tahsildars and other officials to resolve immediate problems faced by HIV affected families.
There will a state-level debate with officials in the health department over the possibility of providing free nutritious food to HIV infected persons in the state, he added.
District AIDS Prevention Officer Dr Kishore Kumar said that there were 397 HIV infected children in Dakshina Kannada, who were provided with free medical treatment and monthly allowance by the health department.
Director of Prajna Counselling Centre Dr Hilda Rayappan and others were present.
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