New Delhi, Nov 27 (Inditop.com) The long pending legislation on HIV/AIDS that aims to protect the rights of people living with the disease, will be tabled in parliament in its next session, said Oscar Fernandes, chairman of the Parliamentary Forum for HIV and AIDS, Friday.
“The consultation work on the bill has been expedited as we want it to be tabled in the next session of parliament. It is a serious matter and we want it be passed as soon as possible,” Fernandes told Inditop.
The HIV/AIDS bill was drafted in 2006 to protect the rights of people living with the disease and to prevent and control the spread of the infection. It followed intensive discussions with different stakeholders, including people with HIV, sex workers and drug users, and has been pending with the government for the last three years.
Fernandes said the Parliamentary Forum is holding discussions with the ministries of health, law and social welfare to work out the modalities for the bill.
“It is unfortunate that the bill has been delayed and we are making all efforts to get it passed. The bill will ensure human rights and universal access to prevention, treatment, acre and support to the HIV affected people,” he said.
