Lack of Confidentiality and Privacy in Counselling at JNJP ART Center, New Delhi

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members,

If you ask any HIV+, under the treatment of LNJP ART Center, New Delhi or visit

personally you may confuse to find out any normal " Closed Door Counseling

Space " !

The counseling room there is a room of around 100 sq. ft. furnished by three

Tables along with Chairs, Two Counselors (one male and one female) sets in two

tables just side by side and one Nutritionist on the opposite and few Client's

File Racks, where the departmental staffs comes very frequently to get the

visiting Clients file, above all this room is just like any common busy office

rooms, which I have never seen or just imagined before I was there in ART

Center of JNJP, New Delhi, first time.

Although, Confidentiality and Counselling are integral parts of HIV-related

services especially for PLHIV. Attention must be paid to all Counselling rooms

in ICTC and ART Centres where presently counselling is done mostly in cubicles.

While there is a degree of " visual privacy " , the cubicles are open on the top

and hence every one can hear the proceedings that are going on within the

counselling room.

This lack of " audio privacy " is detrimental to the quality of counselling

services by way of lack of confidentiality.

In this regard,I would like to draw kind attention of Forum Members and NACO as

a client of the same ART Center to Act Immediately to, " Keep Your Promise for

PROPER Universal Access " !

Thanking you,

In Solidarity,

Snehansu Bhaduri,

snehansu.bhaduri@...,

9874693613(mobile)

033-26521519(resi)