Pediatric ART being returned from Manipur

January 23, 2007

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jan 21: Even after pediatric ART formulation is made

available free of cost by National AIDS Control Society on 14th

November 2006, the pediatric ART drugs at RIMS and JN Hospital are

being sent to other states due to absence of good turn up from the

positive children of Manipur.

Dr Th Premchand, ART in charge and deputy director Manipur State AIDS

Control Society, made the above observation speaking as the chief

guest at the one day sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS infected and

affected children by Universal Caring Mission UNICAM today at the DIC-UNICAM,

Khurai Lamlong.

Dr Premchand further said that in spite of pediatric ART formulation

lying at the 2 centres, not many are turning up to get the same. He

said that at present 138 positive children are currently on ART out

of the 888 that have been collected from NGOs. He said that due to

demand, pediatric ART formulation was made available at Churachandpur

and Ukhrul ART centres. He further shared that the JN Hospital has

been identified as one of India`s regional pediatric centres.

Asserting the need for parents to take initiative in getting the

status of their children known, Dr Premchand said that taking serious

note of the challenges of HIV/AIDS, Clinton Foundation has made CD4

count as well as other related tests free of cost and even offer

travel expenses reimbursement for poor families. He said that parents

should take utmost care to give medicine to the children on time so

that drug resistance is not developed.

In the presidential speech, MSACS` NGO advisor M Premjit said that

there is a visible discrepancy in the number of positive children,

which is above 2000, and the number of positive children reported at

the ART centres. He said, " These are the hidden population and the

number is huge. Disclosing status and accessing treatment would help

this population in the long run. "

Fifty-two children were given educational support in the form of

school bags and pencils by UNICAM today. UNICAM has been involving

itself for the welfare of HIV infected and affected widows and

children for more than two years.

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