Inadequate setup mars ART plan

[Guest guest]

Inadequate setup mars AIDS plan

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ MONDAY, MAY 10, 2004 01:11:45 AM ]

NEW DELHI: It seems like the government was in a hurry to get the

anti-retroviral therapy (ART) programme for AIDS patients started

before the elections.

The number of patients so far treated under the programme is abysmal.

Doctors associated with the programme say it is because of " lack of

preparedness. "

The ART programme was started in two hospitals in the city, Lok Nayak

(LNH) and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) on April 1.

In more than three weeks, just six patients in Lok Nayak have been

administered the drug. In RML, the figure is seven. Delhi has an

estimated 35,000 HIV-positive patients and stands fourth in the list

of the worst-hit states in India.

There are about 40 patients already registered with LNH, but the

setup is not fully ready yet, point out concerned doctors.

" Paramedical staff are yet to be posted, the necessary equipment is

not here. Even the furniture necessary to run a clinic is yet to be

bought. The government was in such a hurry that we not given time to

prepare, " a doctor said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?

msid=666840

[Guest guest]

Hello to the Forum:

It's no wonder that agencies who want to get things done just come in and do

it.

Just look at the 1000's of existing ART dispensaries around the country who

could have been supplied with enough medicine to increase their numbers and

the desks and infrastructure is already operational.

It makes you think that maybe this was just some political window dressing

because of the press comment that Melinda Gates made in Calcutta.

So now lets wait until the elections are over and see how long it takes them

to close the nursery

Geoff Heaviside

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear colleagues

This is in reference to the Times of India article about Inadequate

setup mars ART plan in Delhi.

I have gone and visited Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH)last Friday.

When I reached gate number 4 of the hospital, i show a lebel " ARV

Clinic " and an arrow pointing towards the clinic.

Only by seeing this i would like to say that we have accomplished

something, brough the issue up in the public like the other disease.

One of the staff told me that they had started giving the treatment

to about 18 yo 20 people. Most of them were from NGOs.

As a person with HIV I am personnaly concerned about the nutrition

supplement, whether the person is in a position to buy good food.

Secondly about the social economic status - like income and linkages

with services.

Thirdly about the awareness and currently capacity on ART and

Adherence in particular.

I feel that these issue should be studied and appropriate policy for

training and empowerment program should be work out.

It is true that we cannot depend on the government alone, for this we

are planning to reached out to all the beneficiaries access their

current capacity and find a way to empower them. For this the first

barrier is the issue of confidentiality of the client.

It is very important to identify individual beneficiaries in order to

find their capacity needs.

Ricky Tombing

PWHA Fellowship

Actionaid India

C-88 2nd Floor, South Ext-II

E-mail:[dnpplus@...]