Integrate drug, HIV treatment: Bittu

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 16

Member of Parliament (MP) from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu has drawn attention of the state government towards the urgent need to integrate the drug abuse treatment with that of HIV.

Sharing the details of his recent visits to different villages in the Jagraon and Sidhwan Bet areas to motivate more drug addicts to get treated, the MP on Monday informed officials in the Chief Minister Office (CMO) that 47 per cent of the drug addicts were found infected with HIV and some with hepatitis-C.

“It is a matter of serious concern if the incidence of HIV among the drug addicts is increasing. The families of the drug addicts are equally at risk of being infected with the viral disease,” he said while pointing towards inability of the de-addiction centres to treat such patients.

Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said it was a matter of concern. “I am getting the details of the patients who are said to be suffering from HIV verified. We will go all out to fight the menace,” he said.