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Drop in HIV cases in Chittoor
The District AIDS and Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU) is moving ahead with ‘Test all - Treat all’ policy across its 20 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and other treatment centres as per the norms set by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and AP State Aids Control Society (APSACS).
Tirupati: The District AIDS and Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU) is moving ahead with ‘Test all - Treat all’ policy across its 20 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and other treatment centres as per the norms set by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and AP State Aids Control Society (APSACS).
This is in accordance with the global policy to treat people with HIV which states that those diagnosed with HIV will be given antiretroviral therapy (ART) irrespective of their CD count or clinical stage. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that early use of ART will keep HIV affected alive and healthier, which ultimately reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to partners.
In the last three-and-a-half years, the prevalence of HIV has come down drastically in the district. About 2,128 were tested positive after conducting tests on 77,303 people during 2014-15. It fell to 1,742 by 2016-17 though tests were conducted on 91,739 people.
This year, till September 754 were tested positive. However, the prevalence of HIV in antenatal mothers, which would be taken as national prevalence since it will have the effect of vertical transmission from mother to child. In 2014-15, there were 126 pregnant women tested positive while in 2017-18 up to September only 28 pregnant women were having the disease.
Additional District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) Dr C Aruna Sulochana Devi (AIDS and Leprosy) told The Hans India that 23,343 patients have registered their names for treatment in ART centres till October 2017 whereas 9,240 patients were taking medicines regularly. “ART is just like a treatment given for diabetic and hypertension. A patient taking the treatment regularly can live long.
The objective is to reduce the infection by 50 per cent. Since HIV and TB are co-infected diseases, every TB patient needs to undergo HIV test, which is mandatory. Every pregnant woman will have to undergo HIV test, she added.
A total of nine NGOs like PASS, RASS, WINS and others are working with APSACS. They focus on the sensitization programmes with targeted interventions on the high-risk groups like lorry drivers, Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Men having Sex with Men (MSMs) and migrant workers. She said that they are going to conduct rallies, human chains and meetings on a massive scale at Chittoor and Tirupati, on the occasion of ‘World AIDS Day’ on December 1.
After this programme, the Additional DM&HO said they want to chalk out an action plan by discussing with all the NGOs and other officials on reducing the HIV prevalence further. The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘Right to Health’ with the slogan ‘My health my right’.
She also disclosed that several welfare schemes were being implemented to the HIV patients.
They will get 30 kg rice free of cost, loans through ST Corporation with 90 per cent subsidy, double nutrition through ICDS for children, ART pensions, concessional bus passes etc. Steps being taken to encourage voluntary blood donation and five more blood storage centres will be established soon which will also help in reducing the maternal mortality rates.
By V Pradeep Kumar
