Free HIV treatment available but undelivered

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Sources from The Statesman

Imphal, Manipur

IMPHAL, Oct. 19: For hundreds of people living with HIV in Manipur who have

developed resistance to the first line Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) ~ the only

known treatment that can suppress HIV, news of free second line treatment came

as manna from heaven.

But the euphoria faded and trauma took over as the state agency set up to

deliver the free therapy failed to do so even though the first of the drugs

consignments has already arrived in Imphal.

While the Manipur Aids Control Society, the nodal agency, scrambles to roll out

the therapy, calling a meeting of its Nodal officials on the 24th of this month,

the RIMS ART centre, one of the 10 designated across India to administer the

second line treatment is yet to be fully conversant with the drug regime. Except

for the RIMS Nodal Officer of the ART centre, no one even knew of the arrival of

the drugs.

The drugs, was reallocated from the Tambram ART centre specifically for

RIMS.According to reports Naco has set November as the deadline for rolling out

the drugs.

But from the way things are turning out it is unlikely that the drugs will be

delivered. Inside information say a four-member committee to look into who

deserves to be given second line treatment is yet to be formed.

More importantly there seems to be not enough trained hands to administer the

drug regime.

Authorities at the RIMS ART centre are citing technical problems, saying that

viral load test of the patients need to be taken before the administration and

that it cannot be done in Manipur.

They also say that it cannot give out the drugs given the lack of directive on

the viral load testing from either the Macs or Naco. Sources however say Naco

has made arrangement for testing of viral loads for blood samples from Manipur

at Delhi centre to which it is connected by daily flight.

According to Macs there are nearly 50 people living with HIV who can be given

the second line treatment. The Manipur Network of Positive people however gives

a higher figure at 150 plus.

According to NGOs, there are nearly 4,000 HIV positive people, including

children on ART and of these several are already on second line treatment

costing Rs 6,050 per month over and above Rs 2,500 for viral load testing every

six months.

Meena (not her real name) is already on 2nd line treatment and reeling under the

financial burden. The news of the announcement by the Union health minister Mr

Ramdoss for rolling out free 2nd line ART last World AIDS Day is yet to reach

her even as another World AIDS Day is coming around.

In Solidarity:

Leima

Yaiphaleima Tutuleima

e-mail: <leimatutu@...>