AIDS control: Delhi gets free ARV drugs

[Guest guest]

AIDS control: Delhi gets free drugs

Though low-prevalent zone, Capital gets priority due to `high vulnerability'

Toufiq Rashid

New Delhi, March 31: Come tomorrow, and LNJP and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals

will be dispensing free anti-retroviral (AIDS) drugs to patients in the Capital,

as part of a Union Health Ministry initiative. Delhi is the only state where the

medicines will be given free of cost, despite the city's `low-prevalence'

status.

According to National AIDS Control Organisation, Delhi is a low prevalence state

with about 25,000 HIV positive cases. However, not all of them are required to

be administered the ARV drugs as the treatment is only for full blown AIDS

cases. `

``Our government hospitals have so far reported about 860 case. The exact number

would be known once the treatment begins. Not every HIV positive patient is to

be given the drug. It is just those who have a very low CD4 count need to be

given the medicine. It is not a cure but helps stop replication of the virus and

prevents immunity level from decreasing,'' said Dr Arun Baroka, Project

Director, Delhi AIDS Control Society (DACS).

The project is funded by the Centre and the Delhi government will just be

providing manpower and expertise. According to Dr Baroka, the medicines would be

dispensed at the special clinics set up by the government. The functioning of

the clinics would be monitored by the HOD-Medicine, in the hospitals, HOD

-gynaecology and paediatrics will also be involved.

``The clinic would be manned by a research officer who would be a post-graduate

doctor. The clinics will have counselling centres for the patients and the

family and NGOs will also be included for adherence and monitoring,'' he added.

The other places where the free drugs are being dispensed are the six high

prevalent states — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Karnataka

and Nagaland. According to NACO officials Delhi, a low-prevalent state was

chosen owing to its high vulnerability.

``Delhi draws a large number of population from the neighbouring states. Another

large chunk is migrants. The Capital is also vulnerable as it shares its borders

with five states,'' said Meenakshi Dutta Ghosh, Director NACO.

``Besides 32 percent population in Delhi is living in the slums, making it more

at risk,'' she added.

According to Dutta Ghosh, it gives out signals that the government is very keen

on the AIDS control programme and including the Capital is important. ``If

things are happening in the Capital, it has a direct relationship with the

political commitment,'' added Dutta Ghosh.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=80450#

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Forwarded by: Sridharan R. [sridharan@...]

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

As has been said before low prevalence areas in India are usually low prevalence

by accident and only stay that way by design.

This is an example of good design but I can't help feeling it is not a design

feature at all but simply some grandstanding for National Capital priority.

All areas in India even low prevalence areas need access to affordable medicine

for those that absolutely need it. From that decison more people will seek

testing and eventually we might actually find out how many +ve people we

actually have to count and conversely how many non positive people we need to

keep that way and then get community based organisations to determine how best

to achieve that objective. Given the funding they can then determine which NGO's

might best deliver the service and under what terms and conditions will that

service be delivered.

Obviously that is a complete about face to the current process where donors

dictate policy, NGO's buy the policy and they try to make it fit the community.

Key players will be positive people whose membership in CBO's will be sufficient

in number to make decisons and very focussed on proper outcomes.

Geoffrey

E-mail:<gheaviside@...>