Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Chowdhary today reviewed the HIV/AIDS situation in Punjab and said infrastructure to control the disease would be strengthened in the state.
At a review meeting with senior officials of central and state governments, she expressed concerns over the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in Punjab and attributed it mainly to the increased abuse of Injectable Drugs Users (IDU) among youths.
"The rate of HIV/AIDS infection is increasing constantly in Punjab, which is three times higher than the national average... Punjab is having the highest infection percentage in the country," Chowdhary said.
"This is a very serious issue and to be addressed on priority basis because it is affecting all sections of society irrespective of caste, creed and economic status," she said. She emphasised the need to curb the increasing menace of drug abuse and to launch an awareness campaign among youths.
Punjab is also lagging far behind in blood donation as compared to the national average and many other states like West Bengal, she said.
There are 98 blood banks in Punjab, of which 45 are run by the government, five in Military Hospitals and 48 in the private sector, she said.
