1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

near future, a comprehensive plan is being formulated to develop the tourism
industry to further promote the private sector. It was resolved that the Ministry
of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Home Affairs would review and draft a
proposal which would then be communicated to the people and business
community. With regard to the proposal of setting up a domestic air transport
service by the representative from Mongar, the Communications Deputy
Minister has submitted that in line with the directives of the CCM, the
Communications Ministry is not only working on an overall plan but is also
looking at the possibility of private sector starting the helicopter service.
2. Concern Over Spread of HIV/ AIDS
The Dagana Chimi said that the people know through radio and print media
about the deaths of millions of people in the world infected by the deadly
disease, AIDS. There is great risk that the disease may also spread in Bhutan. It
was felt that people who often travel through airports, hotels and urban areas
where there are heavy human traffic, are responsible for spreading the disease.
Therefore, in order to prevent the spread of the fatal disease, the Health
Department should monitor such places constantly. Similarly, a programme for
blood tests in all the 20 Dzongkhags of the country should be initiated.
In response, the Health and Education Minister expressed the appreciation of
the Health Department to the Dagana Chimi for raising the issue of AIDS for
discussion in the National Assembly. The Minister informed the Assembly that
while the fearsome disease presently affects 36 million people in the world, 22
million have died, and out of this, more than 4 million are children. The disease
is estimated to be spreading at a rate of 440,000 persons per month and 16,000
persons per day. The total number of infected people in South Asia is 6 million,
over 22 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the highest in the world.
However, leading scientists in the world warn that the disease may spread more
widely and rapidly in Asia than in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease has no cure,
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