150 BEST Divers and Conductors Tested Positive for HIV

Recently more number of bus drivers and conductors in India are being tested positive for HIV. One such case is that of the bus conductor Ravindra Kamble (34). Statistics show that about 150 BEST drivers and conductors in the last one year have been tested positive for HIV. The BEST’s HIV policy programme was started by General Manager SS Kshatriya in the previous year.

He took the initiative for counselling 15,000 drivers and conductors like Kamble. He also helps employees who have tested positive with free medicines. When Kamble learnt he was carrying the virus, eight months ago, he was very scared to face the society and hence stayed away from work for over a month. But BEST came to his rescue and offered other counselling programmes. Now he takes his anti-viral medicines regularly and goes for check-ups every three weeks. Though he faces an uncertain future, but at the moment he is happy with his life.