Re: Taking care of Health care Providers living with HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/9332

Ms. Padmavathy has raised an important issue that deserves the

highest attention. I remember Sudha as a quiet, simple, sincere

professional. It must also be recognised that she took a lot of

initiative in forming the 1st ever support group for PLHAs in the

government hospital. We have lost a wonderful human being and a

committed professional.

In the course of their work, counsellors and outreach workers are

also exposed to a lot of infection. Since they are an important part

of the health system, it is worthwhile exploring ways to support them

in relation to their health. Let us not look behind, rather look

ahead to see what we could do now and in the near future for PLHAs

engaged in the system.

Maya Ramachandran

Joint Director

Siaap

E-MAIL: <mayu_r@...>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Re: /message/9332

I'm woman living with HIV/AIDS since 12 years. I was working as a

ICTC counsellor for 2 years and resigned my job 2 months back. Here i would like

to thank Tamil Nadu SACS heartfully for providing jobs to

WLWHAs as counsellors, ORWs etc., and we are granted 2 1/2 days leave

per month apart from sundays. But are we allowed to take the leave

granted to us?

But the concerned officer In-Charge(MOs) are not allowing us to

utilise this service provided by the SACS. Here i would like to share

about the access of rights while we are talking about the service

need.

If we get the services like dialysis, ortho.etc., HOW and WHEN to

reach it? We lost our friend Ms.Sudha, she went to duty on sunday

(1/2 day) and after her lunch she passed away. Like this our positive

women are working restless. Even after lots of training provided by

SACS, we are being pushed by the work station officer in charges, and

we are also ill treated after they come to know about the positive

status.

This is just a small example from the stories of WLWHA. I request

Mrs.Padmavathi, TPWN+ & PWN+, they make ensure about access the

rights and services available.

A.THAMIL

President

Network for Positive People in Trichy(NPT+)

e-mail: <nptplus@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

As rightly expressed by Ms. Maya, Ms. Padamavathy has opened up a

valid discussion. But, I am wondering why she restricted her concern

only to health care providers living with HIV. That too, women health

care providers. I see this, as an issue of all PLHA rather than health

care providers living with HIV.

I do have similar concern for marginalized people living with HIV

(MSM, FSW, TG, and IDU). Even though HIV prevalence seems to be very

high among them, the ART access among them seems to be very low

reportedly (NACO data). There is no national policy to ensure ART

equity among these people, even though NACP III says that, ART would

be provided to all those who need or eligible

Hence, as far as treatment is concerned, these are not issues of

health care providers living with HIV or marginalized people living

with HIV but the issue of all PLHA. Let us keep the discussion for all

PLHA irrespective of their occupation, gender, and sexual orientation.

Thanks,

D. Dinesh Kumar,

Community Consultant,

TamilNadu.

E-MAIL: <ethics.justice@...>