Poor Facilities in ART Centre in Visakhapatnam

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Andhra Medical College, KGH, Visakhapatnam is one of the busy ART

Centre in AP. PLHIV & CLHIV from AP and Orissa also getting ARV from

this centre. I am one of the PLHIV who is getting ART from this

centre from last 9 months. This is the observation I want to share

with you.

1. KGH is one of the Busy ART center in AP

2. Pediatric ART also available in this Centre.

3. There is no sufficient place for PLHIV to sit/stand who were

waiting for their turn.

4. Very small place for Counselling.

5. There is no seperate counselling room for male and female.

6. I observe that the staff working in ART Centre are very

frustrated. The reaction of their frustration always be on the

PLHIV.

7. Before two months there was a bottle of water but now there is

no Safe drinking water atleast normal water facility in ART Centre.

We are begging for water in the ART Centre. I want to present one

incident happened on tuesday 23.10.2007. One of the CLHIV who was

thirsty, his mother asking for water all staff but no body gave her

water. Lastly she went out of the gate and purchased the water, till

the boy was crying because of thirst, but I saw there is no humanity

in the hospital. One water can was there in the doctor chamber, but

they told that: that water only for the staff not for the PLHIV.

8. There is no toilet facility. If there is facility but nobody

knows about it. There is no information board .

9. There is no proper guidance for reference. People are roaming

here and there without guidance for the testing like CD4, X-ray,

VDRL, Sputum etc, counseling and treatment. If there will be proper

guidance by the staff people can save their lot of time and get the

treatment early.

10. One of my friend was taking ART from this Centre suddenly she

advised to stop the treatment after fifteen days when she got skin

rashes without any counseling and referal. Till now she dont where

to go next for treatment. The Sixth month was over to this incident.

11. Till know there is confusion of testing of CD4 & Blood test for

CLHIV whether Pediatric ward will do the test or the VCCTC & Chemical

Lab.

12. Because of heavy rush in the centre Doctor can't give sufficient

time to the PLHIV. for example I am taking ART from Feburary 2006.

In February 2007 my CD4 was 333 but this October 2007 my CD4 is

decreased to 248. But there was no proper information given by

Doctor why this happen or he didn't gave me advise to increase it.

Still I am confused Doctor didn't ask me a single word about the CD4

decrease. Just he prescribed Tab. Septran.

13. People from other state like Orissa which is very nearer to

Visakhapatnam are going to get the treatment from this ART Centre the

people are suffering because of language, who don't know telugu

language and staff also don't know the NATIONAL LANGUAGE- " HINDI "

Counselor not able to provide counseling to this people and advising

them to take the treatment from their state which is not possible for

the people. As you know there is Only One ART Centre in ORISSA.

If the staff will learn NATIONAL LANGUAGE then it will be better for the people

who are coming from other states and who doesn't know TELUGU.

I request the forum and Positive networks to please give your kind

suggestions and attention on this issue to improve the quality of

treatment in ART Centres. So, PLHIV can access the treatment and

services easily

Regards

SANTOSH KUMAR.K

Gen. Secretary, NKP+

KORAPUT. ORISSA

e-mail: <kumarpositive@...>