HIV in Ludhiana and Amritsar: Alarm bells go off in district

[Guest guest]

Ludhiana, February 26

The Punjab State Aids Control Society has sounded an alarm bell in the districts

of Ludhiana and Amritsar that have the maximum number of HIV/AIDS cases in the

state and have been put under Category A.

Despite the efforts to control AIDS in the district, the health authorities have

failed to evolve a foolproof system. A separate AIDS wing had been set up in

Ludhiana under the guidelines of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACO)

under the district programme officer.

Ludhiana and Amritsar are the only districts where these special wings had been

set up.

The Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at the civil hospitals in

Ludhiana, Samrala, Payal, Raikot, Jagraon, the DMCH and the CMCH, despite being

the last resort for HIV/AIDS patients, is unable to reach out to a large number

of patients.

Counsellors at these centres refused to give the number of positive cases on the

pretext of “confidentiality”. A senior doctor, maintaining anonymity, said: “It

is difficult to ascertain the authenticity of the records as a large number of

positive cases from targeted areas do not come in the open. At the same time

there is no need to hide the number of patients as it invalidates the cause of

helping patients to come out in the open and the general public to treat them

with respect.”

Dr Geetika, district programme officer for AIDS in Ludhiana, said: “There is no

time to lose as it is the need of the hour to tackle the problem. I have already

started holding meetings to deal with emergency. ICTCs, gynaecology clinics,

public and private blood banks and NGOs have been asked to send detailed reports

of positive cases.”

She also spoke of the shocking revelations by the team of experts on “Red Ribbon

Express” that accelerated the process of consolidating the AIDS control

programme in Ludhiana.

Creating awareness was the top priority as slum dwellers, truckers, IV drug

users, commercial sex workers and their clients were among the worst affected,

the district programme officer stated

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090227/ldh1.htm#1

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Re: /message/9979

I am making noises since long about Amritsar.Good to hear SACO is

bothered. By the way it is not Amritsar and Ludhaina--the patients

with are from all over the state and by some coincidence to Leprosy

patients of one state prefer treatment at other state and same holds

true for districts.

My services ,as I always said are at the disposal of all including

SACO,in case they are seriously thinking of involving people with

human touch.

My center is already catering to the needs of rejected by MCA,widows

and orphans.I also provide services for admissions and surgeries etc

(usually Dilly dallied by recognised centers and territory care

hospitals even) thru a network of dedicated physicians and surgeons.

During my visit to USA (presently) and discussions here with physician

friends here,I am sure it is more apt to repeatedly educate the

medical community at a regular interval.

Yes,this can not belittle the importance of awareness programmes.

Dr.Rakesh Bharti,

Amritsar

--

Rakesh Bharti MD,AAHIVS,

BDC Research center,

27-D,Sant Avenue, The Mall, Amritsar.

Punjab, INDIA1 43001.

TEl-91-183-2277822;91-183-2278522

e-mail: <rakesh.bharti1@...>