NEW DELHI: The Defence Minister Sharad Pawar admitted in the Lok Sabha on Friday that81 cases of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) had been detected in the armed forces during the past five years.
In a written reply Pawar said these cases had come to light as a result of the anti-AIDS surveillance which began in 1987 Out of the 81 men 62 had history of promiscuous sexual exposure the minister said.
He however pointed out that none of them had been afflicted by the full-blown Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
As precautionary steps to arrest the spread of AIDS among the armed personnel the facility for testing donated blood has been expanded. Special care is being taken to disinfect instruments. Seven centers have been carrying out the surveillance against HIV infection among the jawans and the blood-donors are being screened the minister added.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 24, 1992
