No second line drug for HIV+ patients

[Guest guest]

Chandigarh, September 12

While the National AIDS Control Organisation has successfully provided the first

line treatment for HIV+ patients throughout the country, the treatment for the

next step still remains a distant dream for them.

Over 130 persons living with HIV/AIDS were assembled together here expressed

their concern over the non-availability of second line drug, which is required

for patients who are resistant to the first line. K.K. Abrahim, president of the

Indian network for people living with HIV/AIDS, said out of 150 anti-retroviral

centres across the country, only two centres are offering these drugs.

However, many patients are in need of second line treatment. As per the NACO

figure, over 1.62 lakh persons living with HIV+ are enrolled in 150

anti-retroviral centre for the treatment across the country. But, only 15 per

cent are getting second line treatment, as this drug therapy is available only

in Mumbai and Chennai.

President of Chandigarh Netwok Pooja Thakur said almost 3,500 persons living

with HIV/AIDS are registered at ART, the PGI and out of these 100 need

second-line drug therapy. But due to non-availability of these drugs they are

forced to go private setup.

“I need the second-line treatment for living and being able to raise my

eight-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter. I want to live long enough to see

my children grow up. I want to live for her. I hope we start getting the new

medicines soon,†said Amanpreet, an HIV positive mother who came at the

capacity building workshop organised by the Indian Network for people living

with HIV/AIDS in association with Chandigarh network.

According to experts, the drug will help her body contain the deadly virus and

perhaps stop her from moving to the AIDS-level.

Though this single parent’s CD4 count, used to assess immune status,

susceptibility to opportunistic infections, need for ART and for defining AIDS

(if CD4 count is less than 200) is over 600, she has suffered severe weight loss

for a year now.

“I cannot afford to take the medicines from a private centre, as it very

expensive†she added. The cost of second line treatment is Rs 5,000-15,000 but

it would be available free of cost for the patients who enrolled at ART centres,

said Manmohan Singh, executive director voluntary health Association, Punjab. I

hope the government would provide us the medicines through the ART centre.

Amanpreet, like hundreds of others in the region, is waiting for the NACO

programme to roll out this year in northern region comprises Chandigarh, Punjab,

Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir.

Earlier this year, NACO announced the commencement of the second line of drugs

after patients reported resistance to the first line of drugs being given since

2004 through ART centres across the country. But till date it is being available

only Mumbai and Chennai ART centres.

There is a need to speed up the process, said Jahnabi Goswami, general secretary

of Indian Network for People living with HIV/AIDS.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080913/cth1.htm#12