AIDS cell for ESI corporation likely

Preet said those who can afford to get themselves checked privately did not approach the health department and added that factory workers had no direct access to civil hospitals. He apprehended that the rate of HIV infection may be considerably higher amongst labourers, most of whom are migrants, living without their families.

A proposal for a separate AIDS cell had been mooted for which funds would be contributed by NACO and ESI Corporation, Preet said. He said the state health department didn8217;t have sufficient funds to meet the expenses of conducting the HIV test.

The corporation director said that migrant labourers were the backbone of Punjab8217;s economy and it was the duty of the health department to give utmost priority to this section. He said arrangements would be made for safe blood transfusion, blood testing, condom vending and health education in all ESI hospitals and dispensaries in the state.

Preet added that about 4.25 lakh workers were registered with the ESI Corporation in Punjab which implied that about 18 lakh members of their families depended on ESI health services. He said at present seven, ESI hospitals and 77 dispensaries were functioning in the state. A referral hospital was being set up in Mandi Gobindgarh, he said. Preet added that Mandi Gobindgarh had emerged as a big industrial town after Ludhiana.

He said the corporation had advanced Rs 20 lakh to the factory workers for treatment of chronic diseases during the current year. He added that in March, medicines worth Rs 2.29 crore were purchased for ESI hospitals, while fresh purchases worth Rs 64 lakh would be made shortly. The department had received complaints of shortage of life saving drugs, Preet said.

Preet exhorted industrialists to help the health department in providing better health services to factory workers by providing basic infrastructure in health centres.