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| AIDS, HIV tests a must for new recruits | | | B L KAK
NEW DELHI, OCT. 27: It is official: New recruits to Indian Armed Forces will now have to undergo HIV and AIDS test before joining the services. This follows introduction of pre-induction HIV/AIDS screening test for all those joining the Armed Forces.
According to surgeon Vice-Admiral V.K. Singh, Director-General Armed Forces Medical Services, the orders have already been issued making the screening mandatory. The step is aimed at preventing the spread of HIV among the service personnel.
The deadly virus reportedly claimed the lives of 200 soldiers in the country till last year. More than 300 soldiers are said to be HIV-positive now, according to statistics available with the government of India. The Armed Forces have already adopted a programme to fight the HIV threats among the soldiers.
A medical officer is available in every unit to help the affected soldiers. Stress is given to remove the ‘veil of secrecy’ with regard to HIV.
Open discussions with families of affected personnel are encouraged and more awareness programmes have been introduced. HIV patients are now allowed to continue in service with full free medical benefits. However, AIDS patients are not given this facility.
When asked about reports about the increase in stress-related suicides among armed personnel, Vice-Admiral V.K. Singh said that an in-house analysis had shown that most cases of suicides were reported from those who had joined duty after leave. He said that the soldiers had no battle-related stresses adding that the reasons were something else.
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