‘Reinstate outreach workers’

Punjab Networking of Positive People Society,a non-governmental organisation,has demanded from the Punjab State AIDS Control Society to reinstate the services of outreach workers in different hospitals of the state.

Jagjit Singh Maan,founder of the NGO,said,“Nearly two years ago,the Centre,along with the National AIDS Control Organisation,had appointed 16 outreach workers in Ludhiana and Amritsar. Appointed in local hospitals,the job of these outreach workers was to meet HIV positive people and counsel them. The contract of these workers was renewed after a year. In November 2009,their contract was extended till March 31,after which their services were terminated.”

Maan said,“Along with these outreach workers,counsellors and lab technicians were also appointed two years ago. Only outreach workers,however, were sacked from their jobs while lab technicians and counsellors have been serving in the Integrated Counselling Testing Centre at various hospitals. As Amritsar and Ludhiana have now been designated as ‘A’ grade for HIV /AIDS,so there is a dire need to prepare a plan for these districts.”