Chandigarh December 6: Haryana Health Minister Rao Narender Singh announced that a Link Anti Retro Viral Treatment Centre would be set up at Panipat for providing better treatment facilities for the people suffering from HIV and AIDS. Besides, an Opioid Substitute Treatment Centre would also be set up at Panipat for the treatment of drug addicts.
Rao Narender was addressing a function organized on the arrival of Red Ribbon Express (RRE) at Panipat today. He said that with the setting up of Link Anti Retro Viral Treatment Centre, the patients of this area would not have to visit Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science at Rohtak for their treatment.
On this occasion, he announced to give a sum of Rs. one lakh to Red Cross Society out of his discretionary quota for expansion of health and medical facilities.
The Minister said that a nationwide awareness campaign regarding prevention of AIDS was being run through the RRE which was started from December 2007. The project had received an overwhelming response since then. As a result of this, 50 per cent decrease has been registered in the patient of this dreadful disease.
Rao Narender said that AIDS was a dangerous disease and the State Government has taken effective steps for its prevention. He urged the need to create awareness among masses for the prevention of this disease. He said that to further expand the medical facilities in the State, four new Medical Colleges were being set with an investment of Rs 2000 crore. While expressing gratitude to the Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he said that the development oriented approach of the Chief Minister had led to providing better medical facilities in Haryana as compared to other States.
The Health Minister said that unprecedented development had been taken place in the State in all spheres during the last over seven years. He said that as per the plan of Health Department, the General Hospital of Panipat would be upgraded soon from 100 bedded to 200 bedded.