Delhi became the first state in the country to provide a life-long financial assistance HIV/AIDS patient, noted the report.
Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of National capital Delhi, today announced an aid scheme for HIV/AIDS infected patients from underprivileged families, who will be offered a life-long financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month for anti-retroviral treatment.
People with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral treatment at any of the nine listed government health centres will be receiving Rs 1,000 per month; HIV positive orphans, destitute or even the abandoned children infected with HIV/AIDS will get Rs 2,050.
Sheila Dikshit announced about the scheme in the annual budget, at a function held at Maulana Azad Medical College and distributed cheques to 27 people. Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit said “About 50 per cent people living with HIV/AIDS in Delhi are from very poor socio-economic background. There are about 17 people who were children and 10 were women”. She added that almost half of the people infected with HIV/AIDS in Delhi were from poor socio-economic background and expressed hope that the scheme will benefit these people.
Dr A.K. Walia, Delhi health minister said “Presently there are 11,064 people undergoing antiretroviral treatment (ART) at nine centres across the city. We intend to reach out to as many HIV positive people as we can.”
He also said “Most of these HIV infected people are in deep financial crises mostly because of the social ostracism they face. We feel that this initiative will empower them."
The minister added that all diagnostic facilities, including radiological examinations such as MRI and X-ray, will be made available free to HIV positive patients. She added “All our 41 hospitals have been notified to make all diagnostic facilities free for HIV patients.”
