A total of 1,299 AIDS patients have been identified in the country from 1989 to November 30 last year, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mohammad Nasim.
The minister made the disclosure while replying to a question from treasury bench member Amina Ahmed at the Jatiya Sangsad Tuesday, reported BSS.
The minister said the government has taken various initiatives for AIDS patients. As part of the initiatives, the non-government organizations (NGOs) with government fund would provide Anti- Retroviral Drug free of charge to AIDS patients from its six centres.
Besides, AIDS patients were receiving health education, health condition and counseling through eight government hospitals, Mohammad Nasim told the House.
The government was providing treatment to AIDS patients at a separate ward at Infections Disease Hospital at Mohakhali. It has also taken a project to provide AIDS treatment through 20 centres free of cost, the minister said.
The government has a plan to give treatment to AIDS patients at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, he added.
