Govt. of Maharashtra to try home-based care for AIDS patients

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***Indian Express, April 27, 2002***

Govt to try home-based care for AIDS patients

by Rita Dutta

Mumbai, April 27: TO discourage the trend of HIV/AIDS patients being

rushed to hospital at the slightest discomfort, the Government of

Maharashtra is developing guidelines for home-based care for these

patients.

The guidelines would lay down standards to be followed by families to

treat an HIV/ AIDS patient in the home. Doctors would offer tips to

family members on drugs, diet, training to deal with possible

ailments and also on follow-up treatment.

The guidelines, the first such in the country, are being drafted by

the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) and Wockhardt-

Harvard Medical Institute HIV/ AIDS Education and Research Foundation

(WHARF). Dr D V Vaswani, deputy director for care and support groups

with MDACS, said: ``AIDS patients are admitted to hospitals

either

because the family panics every time the patient suffers a minor

ailment or when the family simply shuns the patient. In most cases,

the patient can be looked after by his family at home itself.''

The guidelines Eobtained from Harvard Medical International by

WHARF Ewould be tailored for India by MDACS, with pictorial

descriptions for better comprehension by laypersons.

Experts emphasise the need to develop protocol for HIV care, to rule

out the gross discrepancies prevailing in the treatment of HIV/ AIDS.

An 18-month study conducted in Kamathipura, Mumbai by WHARF to

understand the spectrum of treatment and care offered to HIV patients

by various non-governmental organisations revealed that the latest

advances in AIDS therapy are not being followed.

President of WHARF Colonel LJS Gill said, ``The study found HIV/

AIDS

patients were not being counselled. Anti-retro virals were not being

administered because of side-effect.''

Booklets with guidelines in Indian languages will be distributed to

caregivers and family members of HIV patients. Extensive training for

caregivers is also in the pipeline.

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