Varanasi: The ART Centre of Banaras Hindu University along with Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre (ICTC), Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT), Blood Bank, Directly Observed Therapy Shortcourse (DOTS) Centre, Suraksha Clinic arranged an awareness programme on the occasion of the World AIDS Day on Friday in the OPD premises of Sir Sunderlal Hospital.The nodal officer of ART Centre and programme director, Prof Jaya Chakravarty said that the centre established in 2005 is the largest and first ART Centre in UP, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar: It is also the only centre of excellence for HIV care in this region. It has 26,900 PLHIV registered and 4,300 are currently taking ART drugs. Our CoE provides mentoring, training, conducting distance learning seminars, research for the betterment of the HIV community and care for severely ill HIV patients, she said, adding that it is the only centre which provides third line treatment in UP and Bihar. It provides free baseline blood, CD4 and viral load testing and Anti Tubercular & Opportunistic infection drugs under one roof. She said that without awareness and participation of the community, this disease cannot be contained. It is the only centre in eastern UP and Bihar with a facility of dialysis for HIV patients., she said. The awareness programme was attended by more than 500 people and over 100 free HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing was also done in the awareness program. This was followed by a cultural programme of children living with HIV of Asha Sadan in the ART Centre. The programme was attended by the director of the Institute of Medical Sciences, Prof SN Sankhwar, dean (research), Prof Ashok Chaudhary, Prof RC Shukla, dean, SS Hospital and others.We also published the following articles recentlyTesting key to curbing HIV infections, say doctorsThe directorate of health services reported that 219 people have tested positive for HIV this year, a significant decrease from 1,094 cases in 2007. The number of tests conducted has increased five-fold, from 22,917 in 2007 to 122,790 this year. Despite reduced stigma, HIV testing rates are still affected in Goa. Director of health services, Dr. Geeta Kakodkar, emphasized the importance of testing for achieving zero infections. The state offers financial assistance and travel concessions to persons living with HIV.At high risk of HIV, They plead for aidProtesters outside New Delhi Railway Station are agitated by the halt in the supply of free condoms and HIV kits. The stoppage of condom supply could mean a rise in sexually transmitted diseases in the city. DSACS provided free condoms and HIV test kits to high-risk groups, but the supply has been halted for eight months. Many NGOs and rights activists are concerned about the impact on the community. DSACS claims to be procuring the required items locally, but NGOs report a shortage.Centre extends free foodgrain plan for 5 yearsThe Centre announced an extension of the free foodgrain scheme PMGKAY for five years till December 2028, with a subsidy of Rs 11.8 lakh crore. The scheme provides 5 kg foodgrain monthly to 81.3 crore poor beneficiaries and 35 kg grains to every family covered by the Antyodaya scheme. The government will ensure sufficient funds for grain procurement and aims to guarantee every poor citizen receives their allocated quota. Additionally, the implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme allows all poor beneficiaries to avail of the scheme nationwide.

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