Nagaland: Hundreds dying of AIDS in NE without treatment

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Hundreds dying of AIDS in NE

GUWAHATI, APR 13 (AGENCIES/PTI)

Article published on 4/14/2010 12:43:27 AM IST Font Size:

A large number of people in India's northeast living with HIV, the virus that

causes AIDS, are struggling for survival. Hundreds are dying with no access to

treatment.

A large number of people in India's northeast living with HIV, the virus that

causes AIDS, are struggling for survival. Hundreds are dying with no access to

treatment. " People are dying regularly and suffering a lot, unable to access

Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) because such medicines are very expensive, " said

Dipak Singh, president of the Manipur Network of Positive People (MNPP).

Two MNPP members died earlier this week allegedly due to lack of medication,

reported Sinlung on its portal Tuesday. " Hundreds have died with no access to

treatment, " Singh said. Although it is not a cure, ART is a combination of

medicines that helps a person living with HIV to fight off infections and live a

longer life.

Besides, ART also significantly impacts transmission by reducing the viral load

concentration and minimizing risk of transmission to their sexual partners. A

person living with HIV requires drugs worth about Rs.1,200-1,600 a month and the

cost doubles if someone has to go for second line therapies depending on the

nature of their immune system.

The northeast has been declared as one of the country's high-risk zones with

close to 100,000 people infected with the virus. The NACO, India's apex

government agency to combat HIV/AIDS, admitted in a recent report that

non-availability of adequate ART in the northeast was a matter of concern.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society (SSACS) on Monday said that the

number of HIV/AIDS cases may be more that the official figure of about 175 cases

known to the nodal agency. " There may be about 1,700 AIDS/HIV patients in Sikkim

who are hiding their disease by remaining underground or may be ignorant of the

disease, " the SSACS Deputy Director D S Kerongi said at an interaction with

various tourism stakeholders.

The figure has been calculated on the basis of the survey being conducted from

time to time by the SSAC team by identification of vulnerable people, he said.

Sikkim has a total of 175 cases of AIDS/HIV, comprising 114 men and 61 women

undergoing medical treatment

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