If me ! then why not other 35 lives? An open letter to NACO.

[Guest guest]

To,

Shri K. Chandramouli

Secretary & DG, NACO,

New Delhi.

Sub: An apple to save the " Right to Life " of 35 lives need 2nd line ART.

Dear Sir,

In reference to the posting in e-forum

(/message/11072) I would like to

draw your kind attention to save 35 lives need 2nd line ART urgently.

The same thing happened to me i.e. " Denial of 2nd line ART Treatment " form ART

Center under which my treatment is going on as I belong to APL Category

according to NACO Policy or I failed to produce any BPL Card.

The Policy which I come to know in an exactly through sough ting information

under RTI Act, which says:

" Under the National ART Programme the following categories of people are

eligible to access free Viral Load Testing and second line ART:

a) People living with HIV (PLHIV) below poverty line (BPL), widows and children;

PLHIV under treatment in Government ART Centers continuously for at least two

years, irrespective of income status. "

This means families in the APL category - who may earn Rs.5000 per month, still

have to buy 2nd line ART on their own, which costs at least Rs.8000 per month.

Similarly, people like me who have started and are getting 2nd line ART

medicines long before from private sources, but under the treatment of

Government Hospitals/ART Centers, without having an ART Treatment Book (Green

ART Book), are not being considered as enrolled patients under " Government Care

and Support System " . Hence they are not eligible to get 2nd line ART due to

their so called " APL Status! "

Same thing happen to my 35 " Unfortunate Friends " , i.e. " Denial of the Right To

Universal Access To Treatment " , which is a very serious violation of our

Fundamental Right i.e. " Right To Life " by " NACO 2nd line ART Policy " , but

according to the interpretation of " Indian Supreme Court " that our Government is

abide to protect for " Each Single Citizen " .

Under this circumstance I would like to request you to take urgent necessary

Action to save those 35 lives need 2nd line ART, along with the rectification of

such Human Rights Violating 2nd line ART Policy, along with the consultation of

National Human Rights Commission, HIV/AIDS Unit, New Delhi.

Hope to get your kind urgent support in this regard.

Thanking you,

In solidarity,

Snehansu Bhaduri

49/A/1, B.P. Dey Street, Serampore, Hooghly,

West Bengal, India. Pin-712201.

Phone:+91-33-26521519(Resi), Mob: 9874693613

E-Mail:snehansu_bhaduri@...

C.C.

1.Dr. B.B Rewari,

National Programme Officer (ART),

NACO.New Delhi.

2.National Human Rights Commossion,

New Delhi.