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TSNPP blames Tripura Govt.health system for spread of HIV in Tripura
TIWN
TSNPP blames Tripura Govt.health system for spread of HIV in Tripura
PHOTO : Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik made sand art on AIDS in Puri Beach. IANS File Photo

AGARTALA, November 8 (TIWN):Tripura state network of positive people (TSNPP) has accused health care system of spreading of HIV and AIDS in the state.Addressing media on Saturday TSNPP General Secretary Samir Banik alleged despite specific direction of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) except Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital, HIV test of pregnant women are not made mandatory in other health care units of the state.“In the district and sub-divisional hospitals of Tripura unless patient party insist, doctors are not doing HIV test of the expecting mother even before surgery. In some cases health workers are not following prescribed precaution during surgery, which increasing the incidences of HIV positive in the state,” Banik alleged.Criticizing the role of Tripura AIDS Control Society (TACS), TSNPP President Uma Debnath alleged neither the society nor health department is campaigning against the social stigma of HIV/AIDS.

Citing an instance, he pointed out that a few days ago, an expecting mother reported to Dharmanagar district hospital for institutional delivery. The doctors carried out some basic test but not HIV before surgery.After delivery, she had developed further complication; doctors referred her to AGMC where she was diagnosed HIV positive. Finally, after brief sufferings she died leaving behind her six months old baby, he informed.He also said Tripura doesn’t have any Community Care Centre (CCC) for health care of HIV positive patients.

“Due to negligence of the doctors, the HIV infected mother were operated without precaution and definitely in the following surgeries in the hospital at least on the particular day HIV was transmitted to other patients but nobody is looking at the problem seriously,” he underlined.  

As a result, the hospital when identify somebody infected with HIV, released them from the hospital with valid apprehension of further spread of the disease among other admitted patients.

“Since Tripura doesn’t have separate CCC for HIV patients, they have to live in the house with total isolation and only get the specific medicines from the district hospitals. When the family members get to know because of HIV infections the patient was released from the hospital, most of the case they are rejected from the families and in a few cases HIV patients are provoked to commit suicide,” Banik stated.

Despite reporting the matter to the state government over the behavior of the doctors in dealing with HIV patients in the hospital and carelessness of the health staff no action is being taken yet.

“TACS has encouraged us to set up TSNPP to fight for better health care for HIV patients as well as to campaign that HIV patients are not sinner or criminal. They are suffering from a disease and with proper treatment they also lead a normal life like others.

Also to fight against various social stigmas on HIV positive patients and work for prevention of the diseases but ultimately we did not get any support from the government to set up an office,” Debnath said.

TSNPP has been demanding for district wise CCC for HIV patients, HIV/AIDS treatment facilities in all the hospitals of the state, ensure doorstep supply of medicines and vigorous campaign against social stigmas on HIV/AIDS patients but after four years they could not go even a one step forward due to administrative negligence, she rued.

According to her, officially 1358 people including 417 female and three children were found infected with HIV positive but many of the cases are still undiagnosed either due to social stigma or not available diagnostic facilities in the hospitals.

 

TSNP delegates addressing a press conference at Press Club. TIWN Pic Nov 8

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