Patna, April 13 : Stressing the need to sensitize youth towards the consequences of AIDS, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said that the cases were declining and a target has been fixed to eradicate AIDS by 2030. While addressing an official function organised by the Bihar state aids control committee on Wednesday Mangal Pandey said that his department was continuously providing treatment and adopting preventive measures to check the spread of AIDS. The health minister said that people should not hesitate in getting treatment for HIV AIDS and the patient can have a healthy long life in case timely treatment was provided. He said that the health department was serious about its prevention and treatment for achieving the target. Outlining the schemes of the government for HIV infected people Mangal Pandey said that Rs 1500 was being provided to the infected persons monthly under Bihar centenary AIDS welfare scheme. He said that Rs 23 crore 70 lakh have so far been directly transferred in the account of 40924 beneficiaries. Apart from this the social welfare department was also extending financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month to each of 9289 infected people and affected children. Mangal Pandey said that a new laboratory has been set up in Patna Medical College Hospital for testing and four government blood banks were open in government hospitals at Araria, Banka, Arwal and Bhagalpur in 2021-22. In addition to this three private blood banks were also set up for the purpose. He said that at present 43 Government and 59 licenced private blood banks were functioning in the state. The Minister said that the youth were being sensitized under various programs taken up in versities and colleges and the health department was trying to bring the affected people into the mainstream of the society. RS ARN