Re: Patient sets AIDS counsellor on fire in Jabalpur, a call for

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/6995

Anand Bairagi raised very important issue of mediclaim and social security.

There are many worker in HIV/AIDS project on fixed salary they don't had

facility of reabursement and Pension as other Government worker/Private sector

worker had. Now in Medical College Jabalpur this is very important issue of

discussion, it should be discussed and solved nation wide.

Condition of Mr. Sanjay Shrivastava is critcal. I discussed today with treating

Doctor at Safdarjang Hospital delhi. I am in constant touch with his family at

Delhi and treating Doctor.

Dr. Kasar P.K.

Medical superintendent

NSCB Medical College Hospital

Jabalpur M.P

91-9425359504

91-7612673647 (O)

91-7612371427 ®

e-mail: <kasarpk@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/6995

As we see the position of Counsellor in various HIV/AIDS project is

crucial in terms of making the client understand about his HIV status

after testing, I feel that the basic quality of a Counsellor is to be

patient and reasonably free from stress and worries. In today's

scenario I don't think that the NGOs and even Govt. sectors take

these points in mind when they recruit Counsellors.

Since there is a stigma attached to the word itself, no patient wants

to experience even a small betray in this context, it is a common

practice that given the nature of the position of Counsellor who is

paid very little and expected to work for hours will make them to go

out of the way conversation at time.

I suggest in addition to provision of Mediclaim policy or Accidental

policy, there should be a common note from the NACO to follow certain

basic qualification while recruiting Counsellors and also there

should be a central team to provide training for all Counsellors

having the SACS as an implementing body at every State in this

regard. If this is there definitely such events could have been

definitely avoided and also Counsellors themselves would be in a

position to take care of the Psychological condition of the client.

Abraham Lingan

e-mail: <lingan_abraham@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

It is really so unfortunate to hear about the counsellor in jabalpur.

Though i do not know all the details of the case, it reminded me of some of the

incidents that i have faced in my counselling experience. I have worked in a

substance abuse programme for 6 and a half years and then for the last almost 7

years i have worked as a counselling supervisor, counselling trainer and I have

my own organisation called Center for Counselling in Chennai, India which trains

counsellors. I also have my own private practice in counselling.

As a woman and a counsellor i have had to take certain precautions while i

counsel clients. Some of which i would like to share below:

Counsellor - Client seating arrangements needs to be looked at carefully, I have

always ensured that i reach the door first in case of an emergency.

I usually do not see any potentially violent/ clients under the influence of

alcohol/ drugs alone, i try to get one of the family members to sit in on the

session.

I sometimes inform other counsellors/ doctors that i am going to see a client

(maybe someone who i am expecting some sort of a trouble) and ask them to keep

an eye on me.

I dont close the door when i am seeing a psychotic/ or a disturbed person

I am very particular about the way i speak to a client who is very disturbed, i

try to calm him/ her down and wait until he/ she sits down before i do.

I keep any potentially heavy/ sharp objects away from my desk like paper weights

etc

I am very concerned when i go around to some of our VCTC sites and find

sometimes only the counsellor/ the lab technician sitting in hospitals alone,

especially after 1 PM when all the doctors have left. We have heard of some

instances when the woman lab technician/ counsellor has been accosted by men

coming into the hosptials, sometimes other male health care workers in the

hospital and so on.

This incident highlights the fact that we must have some safety precautions

built for our own staff especially our counsellors and lab technicians who

sometimes leave their homes and are transferred to other towns and PHCs. In some

cases the medical officer lets them use the MO quarters which also looks highly

insecure in some remote PHCs.

I do wish Mr Sanjay a speedy recovery and regular update on his condition will

be helpful.

Magdalene Jeyarathnam

Director

Center for Counselling

Chennai, India

E mail: centerforcounselling@...