You may become positive, but ARV/ PEP is not for you

[Guest guest]

Dear Policy Maker

You may/ will become positive, but ARV is not for you.

One of my friend OJA (name changed), age -39 [married and has 3 (-three)

children]. He has a HIV infected brother with AIDS (CD-4 count below 50). He

does the home care for his brother (since last 4-5 years) and situation demand

him for injecting his brother at mid-night. He had an accidental needle injury

on 23rd of August 2003 (mid night) while giving injection. He was aware of the

precaution and took ARV (for the night) from one PLWHA and borrowed for 2 days

course.

He had reported the incident to Jawaharal Nehru Hospital IN iMPHAL, Porompat on

26th August 2003. He was asked to procure ARV drugs for PEP since PEP is only

for Hospital staff and not meant to be given to him as per the Rules and

Regulation of Manipur State AIDS Control Society(MACS). He was referred to MACS

for the ARV drugs. This was the same case when Regional Institute of Medical

Science (RIMS), Lamphel was approached and told to approach MACS.

PEP is only meant for the Govt. Hospital staff and Care provider of Project

implemented by State AIDS Control Society, as per the Rules and Regulation of

National AIDS Control Society was the verbal consolation got from Manipur State

AIDS Control Society and told to approach NGOs that can avail the drugs or to

procure the drugs from a pharmacy. He could not procure the ARV drugs in time

due to financial constraints (being wage earner) since the cost of the drug

cost more than Rs. 3000/- for the course. He is financially drained since he

has been procuring OI drugs for his brother as his brother got infected with

HIV (through consensual multiple sexual partners, and not as an IVDUs) and is

not getting any benefit (say OI drugs) from the TIs project implemented in

Manipur.

Mr. OJA is at the very High Risk of getting the HIV as he could not procure the

Drugs in time. This is the situation of Misconception regarding Prevention and

Control of HIV epidemic in the general population as per the NACO programme. We

should be grateful to such brother who has been giving home care since the

multi-facet dimension of AIDS is above the service rendered by Service provider

of our state and will be the case in other States.

We had borrowed money and procured drugs for the present. What about others?

Why is it that PEP is not made available to them? Who will support his family

in a long run if he is infected? What is the concept of Prevention and Control

as per NACO norms?

I hope NACO will have a second thought for such situations.

Debeshwar S. Ak.

Programme Manager

FXB- Manipur Branch

e-MAIL: <fxbmanipur@...>