Ministry of Health provides drug services to people living with HIV (representational)
Minneapolis, United States:
The Ministry of Health has sought to include vulnerable groups such as drug addicts, transgender people and people suffering from HIV / AIDS in the social protection schemes managed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, claiming that they are struggling for their livelihood and shelter due to forced foreclosure by coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health has received representations from civil society organizations and representatives of key populations, such as injecting drug users, the transgender community, sex workers and people affected by HIV / AIDS, according to which they are “highly affected” in terms of livelihoods, nutrition and access to shelter and other essential services, officials said on Thursday.
“The Department of Health is actively engaged in the response to COVID-19 and has taken steps to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to those in need of essential health services.
“The Ministry of Health provides essential services in terms of medicines and other treatments to people living with HIV and the key population, but has no social protection system linked to livelihoods, nutrition and access to housing, etc. for these populations, “said the deputy director. -General from the National AIDS Control Organization (OCNA), Dr. Shobini Rajan said in a letter to the Department of Social Justice.
“In this context, you are asked to address the issue and explore the possibility of including key populations and people living with AIDS / HIV in various social protection schemes supported by your ministry,” said the letter to the Secretary at the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The official also requested that opinions / directives be sent to the hierarchical departments of the ministry to take the necessary measures.
They can consult and coordinate with the project directors, the state AIDS societies, who in turn will ensure links with these populations to social protection schemes so that their needs for subsistence, shelter, nutrition be partially taken into account, said Dr. Shobini Rajan in the letter. .
