Screen all inmates for HIV/AIDS: Punjab Health Minister

Dr Yasmeen Rashid says rehabilitation centres should be established in all prisons across the province

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid directed officials concerned to screen every inmate in 41 prisons across the province for HIV/AIDS. She issued these instructions while chairing a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday.

Special Secretary Mudasar Waheed and Punjab Prisons IG Shahid Saleem briefed the minister regarding the initiatives taken for the eradication of HIV/AIDS.

The minister stated that rehabilitation centres should be established in all prisons across the province.

“Inmates with HIV/AIDS must be facilitated in separate barracks,” she said, adding that vacancies at prison hospitals must be fulfilled soon. Strict action against quacks must be ensured in all districts, she said. She added that a comprehensive awareness campaign should be launched in all educational institutions.

She maintained that the health department is arranging awareness walks and poster competitions at educational institutes and training health professionals. Barbers and beauty parlours across province are also being registered, she said.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the Punjab AIDS Control Program is running 18 treatment centres in Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2019.