Bihar: 1,000 Aids cases, but no ARV centre working

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1,000 Aids cases, but no ARV centre working

Radhika D Srivastava. [27 Jul, 2006 0204hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

PATNA: Despite a recent survey indicating a high prevalence of HIV

positive cases in at least eight districts of Bihar, the government

is yet to start distribution of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in the

state.

As of today, there isn't a single ARV centre functional. Though two

have been planned, they are yet to begin work. As a result, an

estimated 1,000 persons with full-blown Aids are leading a difficult

and painful life or whatever is left of it, without the life-saving

medicines.

Already there are at least 9,000 HIV positive people in Bihar and

some of them may need ARV therapy later if their problem aggravates.

The government says it will soon begin two ARV centres at the Patna

Medical College Hospital and Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital in

Muzaffarpur. An official said, " The centres will start in the next

10 days. "

But what has not been explained is as to why the centres took so

long to come up. It is believed the government spoke of starting the

two centres at least a couple of years ago. And even though the HIV

graph moved upwards, the files on the government tables did not.

Although Bihar is termed a low-prevalence but highly vulnerable

state, a recent survey has thrown some startling and alarming facts.

The survey conducted across all 38 districts last year found eight

districts with more than one per cent prevalence in the general

population.

In fact, in some districts such as Sitamarhi, the prevalence was as

high as three per cent. The prevalence rate in Bihar, according to

the National Aids Control Organisation, was 0.13 per cent for the

state in 2004.

But the survey found the prevalence to be as high as 0.53 per cent

in 2005. All those detected positive were in the age group of 25 to

45 years.

The prevalence was found to be 3.7 per cent in Sitamarhi, 2.28 per

cent in East Champaran, 1.89 per cent in Khagaria, 1.52 per cent in

Kishanganj, 1.26 per cent in Madhubani, 1.07 per cent in

Muzaffarpur, 1.28 per cent in West Champaran and 1.81 per cent in

Purnia.

Bihar State Aids Control Society joint director (training) Rajan

Verma told TOI, " When we reported the findings of the survey to the

National Aids Control Organisation (Naco), it sanctioned an

additional 100 voluntary testing and counselling centres (VTCCs). "

Verma said, " At the two ARV centres, we will provide drugs to 800

patients provided their CD4 count is below 200 confirming their

status as full-blown Aids patients. "

As of now, Aids patients in Bihar either travel to West Bengal or

Uttar Pradesh to get their monthly dose of ARV medicines. Many Bihar

patients are registered with other states that are running ARV

centres.

Verma said, " ARV medicines are expensive. A person has to spend Rs

120 for a day's dose. Even the wealthy patients are unable to

purchase it for a sustained period of time. "

With no medicines available from the government, many Aids patients

have died. The government has recorded the deaths of 85 patients so

far. But officials admit that this figure may not represent the true

picture due to large-scale under reporting.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1815160.cms