Anti Retroviral Therapy in resource poor settings

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Dear All

We have facilitated a positive group with about 600 members, all of them

very poor. But, we also are thinking of an ARV program for them. We are

given to understand that a ARV is started when CD-4 counts fall below

200. As we know, the cost of one CD-4 test is something in the range of

Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3000/-. Our problem is can we not have a clinical

criteria instead of relying on a costly CD-4 count, for us to start the

ARV. For instance, esophagial candidiasis.

Does anyone out there have any idea or information about initiating ARV

on just clinical grounds. We request you to give us the information on

this.

R. Meera

E-mail: <rmeera102@...>