Re: Strike by the Staff of the VCTC and ART Centre

[Guest guest]

To ,

Dr Rewari

NACO, Delhi

Re: /message/10988

Strike of Paramedical staff of VCTC and ART in Maharashtra who are

continuously on strike from 1 st Dec 09 to till date, a total of 22 days this

means non availability of essential services to the PLHIVs, may be it will be

a continue indefinitely , but who cares.

Since the last 4 month the CD4 is not being done due to some technical problems

the machine in GMC Nagpur, now due to involvement of LAB Technicians of ART

center in strike, the CD4 test are also held up.

Patients who need CD4 tests like a case of 8-9 Month ANC, seriously ill

patients are unable to start ART, due to not getting CD4 test report from the

ART centre, how long will the authorities take to wake up and do some concrete

work in this direction.

As a PLHIV, we would like to draw the attention of the authorities in

charge that keeping in view the stigma attached to the HIV it is of no concern

to anybody weather the strike continues or is ended.

We are already shy to come out in the open and declare a war against the strike

with our status as PLHIV, how is it possible for them to take up the stage to

show the cause for the concern of the PLHA

We appreciated the in charge of Daga ICTC, the authority there had took a

positive step to carry out the HIV testing of ANCs and emergency patients.

They have appointed a lab technician and the reports are dispensed by the

senior doctors thru post counseling.

Here the PLHIV is very much thankful to ART staff Bhandara district and

Counsellor of IGGMC Nagpur ART center and CCC of Hingoli who are not a part of

Strike of these so called union and are continuing with their work besides

pressure.

We would like to also know, why the concerned authorities are not ready to take

any action against or in the favor of the striking staff or are they waiting to

increase the numbers of the patients who be unable to undertake the test due to

the strike or even lose their lives due to the delay treatment caused by the

strike.

According to the knowledge we have the contract under which the SACS is

providing the employment to these people is only for the period of one year

after which they are continued further keeping in view the past performance and

the duties of the employee.

How according to this contract are these people demanding the salary in aegis

to the state government employees and are demanding increments and other related

benefits.

There are many other candidate and PLHIV who are in waiting list and really

in need of jobs to take care of their families and ready to work with greater

dedication and sensitivity towards the community even at a lower salary which

these striking staff is getting.

This will come in handy to the welfare of the community and also

will be a boost to the programme of GIPA run by NACO.

Positive women Network of Maharastra

e-mail: <mpwn482@...>

[Guest guest]

To,

Dr. Revari,

NACO, Delhi

Re: /message/10988

We totally agree with Positive Womens Network and would like to know when this

strike will end or any alternate solution will be provided.

We all Avert's Nagpur NGO partners were running TI projects and working on grass

route levels. All Peers and ORWs and Counselors work very hard to reach to the

key population and create awareness about HIV/AIDS/STI and also reffer them to

ICTC centre for testing and/or to care & support centres. It is very difficult

situation if all hard work go wasted due to this so called (unwanted) strike.  

And this strike is making worse problems especially to High Risk groups like

MSM/FSW and PLHAs. This high risk population is very shy to come forward and

receive counseling/ART and other supports due to stigma attached.

Can anyone imagine the situation or count the number of people will get infected

or will pass the infection to others because they do not get tested for HIV

and/or PLHA will die due to this strike?

Who will be reponsible for this? Funding Agencies or authorities incharge or

NGOs or the staff on the strike or inosent people? Who will answer to this

questions?

When NACO and other funding agencies spending a huge amount to control new HIV

infection and on care  & support.

This strike is making a very huge damage on all the efforts.

Did anyone cares about it?

All Avert's Nagpur NGO parteners.

e-mail: <sarathitrust_2005@...>