Blood Mobile Ambulance not being used but driver and cleaner receiving salary; funding cut due to laxity in AIDS awareness activities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is a serious lack of attention to AIDS prevention and awareness activities in the state of Kerala. The activities are almost at a standstill. The crores given by the Centre are being wasted by organizing seminars in big hotels. The Centre has cut this year's funds for the Kerala AIDS Control Society due to inefficient spending.

The one crore worth 'Blood Mobile Ambulance', which was provided by the Centre ten years ago to find AIDS patients has not been in good condition for seven years. This is at a time when HIV infection is being reported in the state, including among workers from other states.

The mobile ambulance lying on the premises of the AIDS Control Society in the capital will be repaired at a cost of lakhs to show that central funds have been spent. 15 lakhs were spent on this before the end of the last financial year. The file for the repair first reached the Directorate of Health, but permission was denied as it was not sure that the bus would be fully equipped after spending this much money. Later, the AIDS Control Society authorities obtained permission from the Health Department's Ad. Chief Secretary's office. There are allegations that there is a mystery in this. Although the bus is not running, the driver and cleaner are still being paid regularly. The mobile ambulance is for reaching various centres to diagnose diseases and create awareness.