The centers will provide tests for HIV, TB, and other non-communicable diseases. Kanpur and Varanasi will have two centers each while Moradabad, GB Nagar, and Meerut will have one center each.
With an aim to facilitate tests for multiple diseases in one place, the Uttar Pradesh government will establish ‘one-stop centers’ in five cities on December 1, World AIDS Day.
The centers will deliver tests for HIV, TB, and other non-communicable diseases. Kanpur and Varanasi will have two centers each while Moradabad, GB Nagar, and Meerut will have one center each.
Additional project director of UP AIDS control society Heera Lal, on Tuesday, said that these centers will also provide counseling facilities on mental health.
At present, the one-stop centers are running in 25 states. The center in Kanpur will also focus on transgenders and migrant workers while in Varanasi, the special focus will be on injectable drug users and transgenders.
“One-stop centers will educate people and help in removing social stigma. With counseling, the myths will also be removed,” said Dr. Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, of the Association of International Doctors.
The centers will have a doctor, ANM, to screen patients on the basis of symptoms and tests.
Joint director of UP AIDS control society Ramesh Srivastava said that centers will help reach health programs to the sensitive community that needs them the most.
