New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) As many as 201 inmates at the Tihar Jail here have tested positive for HIV infection between June 2008 and Feb 2010, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said Tuesday.

'In Tihar Jail, since June 2008 to February 2010, 2,540 inmates have been tested and out of them 201 have been found to be HIV positive. At present, 55 inmates infected from HIV/AIDS are lodged in Delhi jails, out of which 14 inmates are on anti-retroviral therapy,' Azad said.

In his written statement to the Rajya Sabha, Azad added that inmates are regularly informed about the causes of spread of HIV and counselled to reduce risks and remain HIV negative.

According to the ministry, around 33,886 people have tested positive for HIV infection in different integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) in Delhi from 2002 to 2009.

Of these, 23,946 are under care of the nine anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres in Delhi.

'Currently around 6,707 people living with HIV-AIDS (PLHA) are alive and on regular treatment (in Delhi),' the ministry said.