THURSDAY, 01 DECEMBER 2011 23:13
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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Even as the
World AIDS Day was observed on Thursday with much fanfare with a new
theme “Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related
deaths”, the vacant posts of laboratory technician in Integrated Counseling and
Testing Centres (ICTCs) opened in the migration-prone rural areas of the
district, have hit the detection and diagnosing of HIV/AIDS patients.
According to
sources, out of the 14 blocks of the district, only in five ICTCs located at
Balangir, Titilagarh, Patnagarh, Kantabanji and Chudapali, required number of
counsellors and laboratory technicians are found. The technicians at Government
PHC of Saintala, Loisingha and Degoan have been given training on HIV/AIDS too.
But in the most migration-prone areas, where people are more vulnerable toHIV/AIDS, such as
Tureikela, Khaprakhol, Muribhal, Sindhekela, Tusura and Gudvella, there is no
laboratory technician to test the infection of the disease. In the district
headquarters hospital, there is only one lab technician who is in charge of
both the sections of the ICTC.
“Mere
counselling is not enough and it is futile to expect poor persons to go to
distant places to test their blood. If a poor person returns from an ICTC
without being tested, it becomes very difficult to bring him again to the
testing centre,” pointed out an NGO worker.
So far 492
persons have been detected as HIV positives and 68 persons have died due to AIDS, informs
CDMO Dr Vikrant Kindo. The CD4 machine is being installed here in the district
and it would be functional after the technician joins here, Kindo informed. In
the Balangir ART Centre, a total of 220 people are on pre-ART and 80 people are
under ART treatment, he said.
Meanwhile,
the Link Worker Scheme, which was working in the rural areas in the district
since 2009 for identification of HIV/AIDS, treatment and linkages with different schemes, has been closed
in the midway leaving its workers and patients in lurch.
“HIV/AIDS remains
one of the biggest global challenges for our generation. It is essential to
combat it through effective awareness campaign and education. Odisha is
considered vulnerable due to a large number of persons resorting to distress
migration. Balangir is highly prone to HIV/AIDS. Awareness is necessary,” said MP and convener of parliamentary
committee on HIV/AIDS Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo.
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