The Plight of Ashok (s) in Orissa

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Dear Forum Members:

Ashok (name changed) aged 30 married since the past seven years, but HIV+ has

faced humiliation which would shock the core of the common man. He was admitted

to the Community Care Centre managed by Orissa Voluntary Health Association

(OVHA) by his sister's husband, as his wife did not want him in the house. The

man was emaciated and completely wasted with chronic diarrhoea, fever and

vomiting.

However seeing the condition of the man deteriorate, realizing that they would

not be able to handle Ashok's illness OVHA discharged him.

KNP+ took care of the man and tried to get his CD4 count done in RMRC however

the CD4 count machine since the past one and half month is not functioning.

Ashok was then taken to Berhampur Medical College, there only 20 samples are

sent per month, so Ashok's turn will come in the month of September when his

blood will be tested in Kolkata.

When KNP+ members got his blood tested in a private clinic (in Bhubaneswar blood

is collected and sent to Dr. Lal Patholab, New Delhi and the report is much

faster than it is in Orissa Only ART Centre) the Doctor In ART Centre Berhampur

refused to accept it saying that only Government reports are recognized.

Today KNP+ took the man to his village in Jajpur because he had no alternative.

His wife was angry and shouted at all berating all to throw him somewhere. This

is what happens in low prevalent states like Orissa where HIV does not matter.

Somebody needs to explain to OSACS as well as NACO to first ensure that lives of

all are precious and these kinds of incidences need to be prevented. And Ashok

needs to be saved.

Ajai Kumar Patra,

President,

Kalinga Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Orissa (KNP+ Orissa)

e-mail: <knpplusorissa@...>