PANAJI: Stating that there is no discrimination to the patients who have contracted HIV/ AIDS infection, the Health Minister, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday said that the number of HIV/ AIDS cases registered in Goa is fast dropping since past three years.
The Health Minister, in a written reply to the House, said the year 2009 had altogether 959 reported cases of HIV/AIDS patients, which dropped to 821 in the year 2010.
"And the year 2011 saw only 665 such cases being recorded in the state," he added, pointing out that out of the total cases recorded, 754, 650 and 535 cases pertained to patients of Goan origin, during the years 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. He also informed that during the years 2009 and 2010, no HIV/ AIDS cases registered in the state pertained to the foreigners, while the year 2011 had a lone case involving non Indian.
"There is no separate accommodation for AIDS patients at the government-run health institutions," Mr Parsekar stated, informing that however, these patients are treated at par with the other patients without any discrimination.
Speaking about the route of transmission of sero positive cases of HIV/AIDS detected in Goan general clinics from 2009 to 2011, the Heath Minister said the sexual route of transmission is the highest with 95.1 per cent recorded cases in 2009, 92.5 per cent cases in 2010 and 93.2 per cent cases in 2011 out of the total recorded cases being related to this mode of transmission. The HIV/AIDS transmission through infected syringes and needles, blood and blood products, and parent to child is minimal, it was informed.
Coming out with information as regards centre-wise number of AIDS cases reported for the years from 2009 to 2011, the Health Minister said that during the three years, a total of 444 patients - 184 in 2009, 154 in 2010 and 106 in 2011 - were admitted to various government health facilities.
"The three-year period registered 166 HIV/AIDS patients approaching the Asilo Hospital, Mapusa, while 124 coming to Hospicio Hospital, Margao," he maintained, adding that the primary health centre, Candolim had such 12 patients during the three-year period, while PHCs at Aldona and Bicholim had four patients each, and PHCs at Valpoi and Sanquelim had three patients each.
It was further informed that in view of the importance of treatment and control of sexually transmitted diseases in relation to HIV infection, the STD control programme has been made an integral component of AIDS control policy. Furthermore, under the PPP model, six private nursing homes -- Vrundavan Hospital and Research Centre, Mapusa, Campal Clinic, Panaji, Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao, MPT Hospital, Mormogao, Anandi Nursing Home, and Govind Kamat Hospital, Panaji – have consented to be the partners in a government scheme to offer counselling and testing services in HIV/ AIDS. The Goa State AIDS Control Society will provide logistic support like HIV test kits and disposable delivery kits.
