State’s HIV and AIDS affected citizens lament neglect

EMN DIMAPUR, JULY 21 PEOPLE living with HIV and the Drug Users’ Networks have questioned what they called the National AIDS Control Organization’s “negligence in providing adequate CD4 testing for PLHIV”. Continued negligence of department of AIDS Control (previously the NACO) in providing adequate testing services in Nagaland is unacceptable, said Network of Naga People living with HIV and AIDS and the Nagaland users Network (NUN) on Monday. “Despite of repeated reminders from the community of frequent breakdown of CD4 testing machine since last four months, neither DAC nor Nagaland SACS have till date not been able to resolve the problem,” the two organizations stated in a press release issued on Monday. The community had written to DAC (NACO) on 7 March 2014 apprising them of the frequent breakdown of the machines in 4 ART Centers in Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung and Tuensang district Hospitals. “At the time when the complain letter was shared with DAC, the machine at Tuensang ARTC was not functioning for almost a year. The machine continues to break down frequently due to its old and worn out condition,” the organizations stated. Tuensang district has 2437 positive cases out of which 778 people are on ART treatment till June 2014, it was informed. “CD4 testing currently plays a very critical part in HIV treatment for putting new patients on ARV and also for regularly monitoring the treatment. Presently, it is being used in national program to detect the degree of compromise of immune system. CD4 testing is currently being used making deciding about the timing of ART initiation, determining the need for treatment against opportunistic infections, and helps in formulating differential diagnoses for symptomatic patients.” WHO in its revised treatment guidelines 2013 have now recommended use of Viral Load testing for monitoring the HIV treatment and is much more accurate than CD4 testing. “At the time when WHO in its guidelines (2013) is now recommending more efficient test - viral load testing for treatment monitoring to ensure adherence and timely switch to next line regimen, it is really shocking that even the basic CD4 testing is not being made available to us at the community level”, said Naomi, President, NNP+. Even after multiple dialogues with DAC/NSACS by the Networks, the matter has not been resolved by DAC and its contracted company (BD India pvt ltd, and CSS, Jorhat), it was informed. “The only thing they did was starting a blame game and throwing responsibilities on each other and also citing reasons like problem with the UPS, earthing, power supply, stabilizer problem etc to justify their inefficiency to tackle this problem.” The organization have lamented that due to the lackadaisical attitude of DAC/NSACS, a total number of 567 LFUs has been reported till December last in the state from among the 4300 registered members in the Nagaland Positive Network. “This harassment needs to be stopped immediately. Both DAC and Nagaland SACS should own moral responsibility towards addressing this issue which otherwise is a direct violation of the right to health as per our Indian constitution. We are aggrieved that, in spite of knowing the problem, none of these institutions have made an attempt to bring a long term solution. Even, the Regional office of DAC (NERO)/ NSACS has failed to demonstrate leadership in addressing the issue and merely been a mute spectator in this terrible situation”, the release stated. The organizations have asked the concerned Minister and the Convener of LFA to intervene on the crisis.