Chandigarh: Testing time for suspected HIV+

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AILING HOSPITALS

PART 1 checks on the non-availiability of HIV testing kits

Testing time for suspected HIV+

TOI begins a three-part series on ailing conditions of hospitals in city. By

Shimona Kanwar/TNN

Chandigarh: Notwithstanding the efforts to spread awareness, HIV and AIDS still

remain the dreaded words. But what is more awful is the fact that the health

officials seem to be least bothered about the plight of people whoes lives are

hinged on the outcome of reports.

The non-availability of HIV testing kits have jeopardized lives of all suspected

HIV positive cases. The city has five centres where HIV status is tested, but

these kits are not available for the past three days.

Confirming this, UT State AIDS Control Society (SACS) director Vineeta Gupta

said, “The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has failed to supply rapid

test kits on time. However, for emergency cases we can use Enzyme-Linked

ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA).”

For authorities, it might just be a matter of delay, but their “callous app ro a

ch ” can’t compensate for p at i e n t s ’ scare. “I was sent back from PGI as

the kit was not available. The kits are available in the open market for Rs 400,

which I can’t affordable. Moreover, there is no one to counsel after that,” said

one of the suspected HIV positive cases.

“Though kits can be procured from private labs, counsellors aren’t there. We

recommend random test as it takes not more than 30 minutes and subsequently the

counselling is done,” Vandana Gupta, additional project director, Haryana SACS,

said.

Though local authorities blamed NACO for non-supply, organization claimed that

they have dispatched kits. Sujhata Rao, director, NACO, Delhi, said, “We have

dispatched the parcel. Why they have not received it is beyond comprehension.”

The city alone has 300 HIV positive people enrolled with the Anti-Retroviral

Therapy and many come from the adjoining states for the check up. So without

these kits, the patients have to wait for 15 days and vacillate between hope and

despair until the availability.

The SACS director claimed, “Serum, part of the blood which is taken, can be kept

for a week until the kits are supplied.”

Centres in city

PGI, GMCH and GMSH have two testing and counselling centers, each. One each is

there in Manimajra, Sector-22 dispensary and Ramdarbar ESI clinic. But none of

them have these kits

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