Chennai: IDU & ART

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

This is to bring to notice that in Chennai there are 2500 to 3000

IVDU's estimated, in that 40% of them are tested HIV positive and 95

to 97% of them are tested for HCV.In 2000 to 2003 it was estimated

10,000 to 12,000 drug user. The service towards the IVDU's was very

low and very few were able to provide the needful service by bringing

them to total abstanince. The cost factor for treatment like

Detoxification, rehablitation is very high and by the

Middle class and lower class people can not afford the treatment

Proceses.

But there are few drop-in-center providing the service where

they are not in the position to support financially for the treatment

facilities. There were also harm reduction program was going on but

it was lasting only for couple of year. During the period of working

in the harm reduction project runned by SAHAI TRUST, my finding was

the Continuity of the service was not there also found major difficulties to

admit the client for de-addiction along with HIV/AIDS & HCV.Bcoz the

discriminations faced by the ivdu community was double the amount of HIV

clients.

Now the estimate of drug user stated by few NGO'S are 2500, comparing

to 2000-2003, But most of them died of over dose, with out the

knowledge of HCV, shifted to cannabies, alcohol and so on ,but still

they are in high risk behavior and vulnerable to word HIV/AIDS & HCV.

Now we have seen more IVDU's have been started on ART, where there is

no testing facilities in GOVT hospitals for HCV in Chennai. And also

death rates are very high among IVDU's who are ART.

In this juncture I would like to bring to notice is that alcohol and

drug addiction have linkage between HIV/AIDS, HBV, and HCV.

I think NACO and all state sacs has to consider this issue and

implement more short stay home's and care and support with a

structured program to address the issue's of IVDU and their family

and children's.

regards

KNS.Varadhan

e-mail: <knsvaradhan2001@...>

PS/ This my personal view