About 1 lakh HIV infected in Kerala

About 1 lakh HIV infected in Kerala
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB 19: Kerala had between 70,000 and one lakh HIV infected persons, Health Minister V C Kabeer told the Assembly today.

Studies conducted in this regard by ORG-MARG had shown that one out of every 1,000 pregnant women and five per cent of sex workers in Kerala were HIV infected. However, among southern states Kerala had the lowest rate.

Incidents of HIV was the highest among people who had gone out of the state in search of employment.

Government proposed to set up centres to offer counselling and blood-testing at concessional rate to HIV infected persons. A voluntary blood testing centre was being set up at Trivandrum Public Health Laboratory, Kabeer said during question hour.

Arrival of foreign tourists to Kerala had recorded 93.34 per cent increase in the last five years, Tourism Minister E Chandrasekharan Nair said, adding domestic tourists arrival recorded a 280.67 per cent growth.