Situation of Poor HIV+ patients at Bolangir, Odisha

[Guest guest]

Poor HIV+ patients at receiving end

November 19, 2010 7:03:01 AM

SUDHIR MISHRA | The Pioneer, Bolangir

The ordeal undergone by the poor rural HIV positive patients in the district

here negates the very objectives of the United Nations Organisation (UNO). The

UNO has put combating of HIV/AIDS as one of its Millennium Development Goals

(MDG) and has even stressed on scuttling its spread by providing universal

access to treatment for all by 2015.

However, the absence of testing facilities, timely detection, care and treatment

and reports of poor HIV+ patients of the rural areas, allegedly being harassed

during the treatment, further compound the woes.

This KBK district has already earned a dubious distinction for its abject

poverty. In recent times, a large number of HIV positives have been detected

here, but when they desire treatment, the absence of facilities, shortage of

laboratory technicians and poor economic condition further aggravate their

ordeals.

Moreover, those who go to Burla for the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) treatment

also suffer due to absence of laboratory technicians there.

According to reports, three HIV positives of Titilagarh block were sent to Burla

on November 10 for the ART treatment, but they had to return as the laboratory

technician was absent on that day.

Kubujha (34) (pseudonym) was attached to a private vehicle and got indulged in

high risk behavior. As his health condition deteriorated, he consulted a few

medicos, but none of them diagnosed him properly.

He was given simply symptomatic treatment and his health condition deteriorated.

When one of our local volunteers tried to counsel him on HIV/AIDS, it invited

the wrath and abuses from the family and the volunteer was virtually driven

away, informed an NGO activist working with the Link Worker Scheme of Action

Aid.

" However I counselled him with much difficulty and managed to bring him to

Titilagarh hospital. After testing, the couple was found to be positive and

appeared to be on an advanced stage. As the condition of the husband was found

to be positive, we counselled and tested his wife's status and also found her

positive, " the activist added.

Fearing discrimination, none of their brothers and family members came out to

help Kubujha following which the activist had to shell out some extra money to

bring the afflicted couple to Titilagarh.

Though he has his brother's house in Titilagarh town, fearing being stigmatised,

Kubujha refused to go to his brother house and preferred to spend a night on the

railway platform.

The NGO activist again sent the couple to Burla for the ART treatment. Besides

the couple, another HIV+ also accompanied them to Burla for the treatment. On

that day also, the laboratory technician was absent and the poor patients had to

return empty-handed.

" When they find it difficult to come over to Titilagarh, let alone distant Burla

while by that time, God knows what would befall on them, " the activist rued.

Even though the ART centre has been opened in the district headquarters town

here, it is without the crucial laboratory technician. With no technicians

available, the slogan to provide the basic healthcare and service to the HIV+

simply turns a tall talk, pointed out the NGO activist.

Besides, there are no regular doctors to look after the Sexually Transmitted

Infection (STI) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinics in the district

here.

In view of the high prevalence of HIV in Titilagarh sub-division, at least there

should be an STI/STD clinic with a medical officer in the district, opined the

activist.

" There is no medical officer to run the STD clinic in the district.

However, there is one Skin/ VD specialist looking after the Skin as well as STD

patients, " informed CDMO PC Sahu, further opining that a link ART centre should

also be started in the sub-divisional hospital seeing the increasing number of

HIV+ cases there.

Pertinent to note that, the ART Centre was opened in April/May on the eve of the

Red Ribbon Express visit to Odisha, but runs without a laboratory technician.

Moreover, most of the cases are detected at the eleventh hour when the health

condition has already deteriorated. And, the major reasons are migration,

ignorance, absence of treatment facilities and poverty.