Puducherry achieved first place in Aids Control in the country, Director, Health Services Dr Raman said on Friday.

Talking to newspersons here, Dr Raman said in a recent survey conducted, 800 pregnant women were tested for HIV/AIDS and none were found positive following which Puducherry was declared as zero percent AIDS infected state.The National average of HIV among pregnant women was 0.28 percent and Puducherry stood at the 10th place in 2014, he added.

Similarly, 500 homosexuals and 750 flesh traders were tested and the percentage of Aids among homosexuals was found to be 0.2 percent. 2.69 is the National average among homosexuals presently, he said. Puducherry was 4th in the country in 2011. Among women flesh traders Puducherry stood at the 8th place with 0.27 per cent.Dr Raman said that test for HIV is being conducted in all primary health centers and if found positive four identified integrated testing centers were there in all the four regions of the union territory to confirm this.

Free treatment is being given once in a month at Jipmer and government medical college for patients confirmed with HIV/AIDS, he added.As many as 615 from Puducherry and 569 from other states are being treated in these hospitals. The Puducherry administration is providing a monthly financial assistance to 540 Aids patients, he said.