News Update from Assam

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members,

After a continues effort of ANP+ for the past two years the dream has become

true. ANP+ always doing strong advocacy specially for access to treatment and

access to right for PLHIV in the state of Assam.

ANP+ has organized one big consultation in 2006 where health commissioner and

Project Director of Assam were present. After the consultation we have sent a

memorandum to the minister of health & Family Welfare of Assam. During this

consultation ANP+ member makes a strong recommendation to provide free travel

allowances to PLHIV across the state while they are traveling to concerned

medical college. Another recommendation coming out that free testing facility

for all other necessary testing besides HIV and CD4 shall be available for the

PLHIV. After this battle Honorable Health Minister of Assam announced the same

during the WAD’2007

 

The dream has become true for the people living with HIV/AIDS in Assam. It was

1st December ‘2008 when honorable chief minister of Assam and honorable health

minister of Assam have delivered a cheque for travel allowances to 5 PLHIV

during the occasion of World AIDS Day at Ravindra Bhawan, Guwahati.

The declaration has been made by the health minister of Assam for free travel to

the art centre for PLHIV have been made in the WAD'2007. But there was a problem

of official structure due to what the actual implementation has been late than

we expected. But from 1st December 2008 the travel for PLHIV to the art centre

from anywhere of the state has become free.

 

Behind the scene ANP+ has played a big role to get these facilities. ANP+ which

is been there in the state for the past more than 6 years during which period

we have always fought for the rights and benefits of PLHIV. We had a experience

when we got free travel support for PLHIV who are on ART during the year 2006

for one district of Assam.

Then we have advocated for the same to implement for the whole state with the

government of Assam. And finally after a long battle this dream has come true.

 

Also there was a huge need of the hour that while a PLHIV coming for the HIV

testing that person shall go for many more other testing which cost a lot and

the people from the poor background could not managed to do so. We thought that

why we should not go for a strong recommendation for free testing facilities for

PLHIV in the state while we already become the first state where CD4 testing has

been tested for free. We started the advocacy with the government and it has

also been become reality for us on this years WAD. Government of Assam has also

announced that the other lab testing will be free for PLHIV in the state who are

on ART from this year.

 

We hope this is really great news for all of us and may be replicated in many

other states where these kinds of facilities are needed at the most. PLHIV

networks from other states also can take this example to put pressure on their

respective state governments to provide these facilities as soon as possible.

 

Finally we just would like to say that we have shared our good time with all of

you and hope this will provides you a lot of encouragements to fight for the

rights and benefits of PLHIV in your places.

At last we are very thankful to the government of Assam and State AIDS control

society of Assam.

 

We need your continuous support for all the coming time.

 

Thanking you

Board member and Staff of ANP+ 

e-mail: <anpplus@...>