Denail of ART for a PLHIV couple at VIZIANAGARAM ART Centre

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum member,

Recently one couple (MR & MRS.X ) went to ART Centre Vizianagaram from Jeypore

(Koraput Dist, Orissa) There the counselor denied to give ARV eventhough they

are eligible for that(Cd4:225 & 165 respectively).

The only reason is they are not joined Community Care Centre. The counselor

told the couple that it is mandatory to join community care centre at jeypore

before starting ART.

Actually the counselor told them about this at the time of CD4 testing only.

But the couple told that they don't want to go CCC due to confidentiality

reasons, they have some close friends working there. They are the members of

DLN also.

The peer counselor's told them about the drug adherence and possible side

effects. The peer counselor also told them about the importance of stay at CCC

in Pre ART and initial stage of ART, but they told that it is very difficult to

face their friends who are in CCC and their children has to absent the school

when they stay at CCC and there is no caretaker for their children.

Jeypore is not a big city where CREECH is available to take care of the little

children.

" I want to know from NACO that, Is it mandatory to stay at CCC for three days

before starting ART, even though the PLHIV is reluctant to stay there? " If it

is there, then the policy indirectly tells that for the sake of ART and life the

PLHIV has to disclose his/her status.

As I understood that this rule will help the PLHIV in monitoring the initial

period of ART but after breaching the confidentiality there is no use of giving

ART and let the PLHIV live in depression.

SANTOSH KUMAR.K

Gen. Secretary

NKP+, Koraput, ORISSA

e-mail: <kumarpositive@...>