Re: Quality of HIV testing in Blood Banks/VCTCs/PPTCTs.

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I had read the article on Reshmi,s death and the need for advanced testing

facility. I do also agree with this suggestion on advanced testing facility in

blood banks.

I have the following points to be presented before you for your kind attention.

First and foremost is we need qualified and eligible lab terchnicians to do this

sensitive and challenging job.

In recent times there are instances where unqualified lab technicians posted in

Blood banks/VCTCs and also in PPTCTs.

Second, lab technicians in the newly opened VCTCs and PPTCTs are selected not on

merit i.e. experienced candidates in HIV testing are being neglected and

untrained and fresh candidates are being posted. This is also true in some blood

banks.

Third, selection of candidates in some of these centres are being conducted

without even conducting an interview and in these centres we cannot even find

atleast the participants list(of interview) and there are no rank lists of

candidates found eligible i interview.

Fourth, There are also incidences where ineligible counsellors and fresh

candidates being selected over experienced candiates in VCTCs/PPTCTs. And hence

quality of counselling service in kerala,s VCTCs and PPTCTs is being challenged.

All this is happening in Kerala where we have loads of qualified and eligible

hands. This is happening in violation of the Guidelines issued by the Project

Director of Kerala SACS on selection of candidates - Lab technicians and

Counsellors- in PPTCTs/VCTCs/blood banks.

And hence my request is that candidates in Blood banks/VCTCs and PPTCTs need be

selected based on merit and not on recommendation of politicians.

Yours sincerely,

Rajesh Nir

E-mail <rajeshat14@...>