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| Afghanistan/South Asia | |
| India to start HIV testing military recruits | |
| 2005-09-25 | |
| SHILLONG, India - Indiaâs president said all new recruits to the countryâs armed forces would be tested for the HIV virus after the deaths of some 200 soldiers due to AIDS in the past two years. âThe military will be testing for HIV in new recruits and undertake pre-natal examination of wives of personnel in the services,â President Abdul Kalam said at an army seminar in Shillong. Kalam is the supreme commander of Indiaâs armed forces of 1.3 million personnel, one of the largest militaries in the world. Officials said the HIV testing would start in October. India has an estimated 5.134 million people infected with the HIV virus in 2004, second to South Africa which has the worldâs highest HIV/AIDS caseload. âHIV/AIDS has become a security threat to India,â Lieutenant-General Bhupinder Singh told the seminar. âAIDS is no less destructive than war itself. We want to keep our force fighting fit.âGovernment records show more than 300 soldiers are currently infected with the HIV virus.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Steve, All of those tests are done routinely by US military hospitals and upon enlistment, plus upon every transfer. We have without question the healthiest military force in history. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2005-09-25 01:45 |