83 HIV-infected Rohingyas traced

A total of 83 HIV-infected Rohingya patients were traced in Cox's Bazar till August 25 last, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim told parliament today.

In reply to lawmakers' queries, the minister said, of the total 83 HIV infected Rohingyas, 29 are males, 41 are females, while six children infected with the virus also were found.

In the scripted answer, Nasim informed the House that there is nothing to be worried about the issue as the AIDS/STD Programme of the Directorate of Health Services under the Ministry of Health has ensured all medicare arrangements including HIV identification and the government has taken timely steps in this regard.

Under the programme, he said, various steps have been undertaken to prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS & STD among the Rohingya people staying at different places of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in Cox's Bazar district.

The measures include providing free HIV screening and counseling services at Ukhiya, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar hospitals and giving adequate kits for diagnosing HIV, added the minister.

Besides, the minister also said, necessary training was given to the service providers (MT lab, nurses and medical officers), while antiretroviral (ARV) drug is being provided to the HIV-infected patients.

He also informed that the HIV/STD Programme has adopted a one-year work plan for providing services to HIV/AIDS-infected patients with the coordination of other programmes as well as local and international organizations.

Responding to another query, the health minister told the House that kidney dialysis services will be launched at all district hospitals of the country.