Need of Dialysis machine for PLHA in Chennai

September 1, 2008

Dear Forum,

In Tamilnadu nearly 25,201-35,000 PLHA member are on ART and it is a known fact

that ART has a greater side effect on the Kidney. Since many are on ART for

years nearly half of them on ART suffer due to kidney problems and non

functioning of the kidney. This problem is now invisibile but of utmost

importance to be looked after. To make worse the situation there are no dialysis

machine available in Tamilnadu .

To introduce myself who is undergoing the similar problem, I am Anbalagan,

living with HIV and on ART since 2005. I am on Stavudine, lamuvidine and

Nevarapine. For the past six months I have been suffering from Kidney problem.

In the month of July the test from Tambaram reports that I have 140- Urea and

10- Citrine. At this I was requested to stop ART and then was referred to the

Nephrology Dept in the Madras Medical College.

There the junior doctor said the same and suggested Dialysis. But the senior

doctor said that if dialysis was done for me there is every chance of spread of

HIV to many other who are not infected.

The reason is acceptable and we agree with them. We are as well concerned about

the society and never would like to spread this disease of ours to the innocent.

But the situation here makes us to realize that most of our PLHA requires a

dialysis machine for the infected. To begin with a dialysis machine and a

nephrologist could be placed in atleast Tambaram where nearly 10,000 PLHA are on

ART.

If this need of PLHA is looked into then it would benefit a number of PLHA.

Though ART has given life to many, some side effects and drasitic effect of HIV

need to be looked into. This is an emerging issue that needs to be sought out

for us.

On behalf of all the positive people in Tamilnadu.

S. Anbalagan

Founder member, TNNP+

Mob: 9842915031

e-mail: <anbuhiv@...>

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