State hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, govt in sustained fight to control disease: CM

Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Friday appreciated the organizers of 3rd  National Conference of AIDS Society of India at Hyderabad and said that Andhra Pradesh is the hardest hit State.

Briefing media persons, Mr Rosaiah said that HIV/AIDS is one of the most formidable public health problems. However, if not tackled properly; it has potential to become a genuine development this problem in the last few years, Government of Andhra Pradesh has mounted a sustained campaign to detect all the HIV cases in the state.

The Chief Minister said that this has resulted in around 20 lakh people getting tested last year and another 10 lakh people already tested for HIV status this year.

The data clearly shows a downward trend in the prevalence of HIV which indicates the efficiency of our prevention programs. This was made possible by establishing 1157 testing units across all level including private sector and 18 mobile units to serve the most vulnerable in the far-flung areas.

Mr Rosaiah said that the sustained testing campaign SUBHAM has provided an opportunity at the right estimates of the epidemic burden of the State and also gearing up care, support and treatment services for the infected people.

He added that as on today, there are nearly 80,000 people receiving free Anti Retrieval Treatment from the 43 Government Health Care facilities whereas, the figure was just one thousand in the year 2004-05. This amply demonstrates the State’s commitment towards universalising access to the ART treatment and also inherent strength of the Government Health Care Systems in the State.

Chief Minister further said that AP State Aids Control Society is instrumental in achieving these phenomenal results. Private sector is also making contribution in providing the treatment to the HIV, where as it is mandatory to follow the treatment and regimen protocols as prescribed by the National AIDS Control Programs by the private practitioners also. Though prevention remains the key for reducing the burden of epidemic, providing or managing the HIV epidemic also plays a pivotal role in the prevention.

He added that early and correct diagnosis of HIV and subsequent link with care, support and treatment services is critical for effective control and management of HIV. There are two ART centres under Public Private Partnership one is in the pipe line with the support of RIL in East Godavari. In the State there is one Centre of Excellence at Gandhi General Hospital and a Regional Pediatric ART center at Nilfouer Peadiatiric Hospital which not only involved in training to the Medical fraternity but also involved in the second line treatment who had failed the first line. The numbers who are receiving are around 300 from the state.

Chief Minister said that as AP is a big state, and the distance of travel to the centre of excellence is far hence NACO has sanctioned an ART plus which will be place at Vijayawada which will cater to the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Our State efforts move beyond clinical management of the HIV.

Mr Rosaiah said that hence Government has introduced several schemes for the benefit of People Living with HIV’s (PLHIV) especially mitigating their financial burden. Pensions were introduced to PLHIV’s so that, it fulfils their dire minimum needs. Also double nutrition and special nutrition wards were proposed for the PLHIV children and concessional bus fares, to the people who are taking ART.

He added that these initiatives are only beginning that are taken for the welfare of the PLHIVs and protect their social entitlements. Our Government is committed for the welfare of the PLHIVs so that, they can lead a quality longer life with the support of the ART drugs.

Mr Rosaiah further said that he has believes that years of intense IEC backed by effective service delivery mechanism have made some positive impact. Our program data indicates that HIV positivity has gone down and same is expected in forthcoming rounds of surveillance. We are confident that we would be able to halt and reverse the epidemic in the state.

The Chief Minister said that to achieve this intensive campaign is planned targeting high risk males. An exhaustive mapping exercise was completed to estimate the number of high risk groups and interventions were scaled up accordingly. The implementation of the program is multi-sectoral and NRHM convergence has been initiated in the state to increase the coverage of the services.

He added that despite the successes, we know that much more needs to be done. We should especially emphasize that AIDS control is not only about safe sex and use of condoms. It is also about ensuring that every positive is reaching to ART centre. It is also about making necessary changes in one’s lifestyle so that one is responsible and caring to oneself, to one’s family, and to the community at large.

It is also about continuous research to explore initiatives to prevent new infections and cure the disease if possible. In the context, I congratulate the organizer to bring this conference to Hyderabad. I hope that deliberations would help us to improve quality of care and understand areas which may help us in fighting with the deadly virus.