In the absence of new programmes, the Krishna district unit of the State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) is idling away precious time with a fond hope that the body will be bifurcated by March-end and activities will resume from the next financial year.
Sources in the department say except for implementation of Deepika Smart Card for HIV+ patients in VAMBAY Colony in the city, no new initiatives could be introduced in the last several months. The Smart Card covers five health aspects: addiction to smoking, drugs, etc; suspicion of tuberculosis; marital status, travel for long distances; any reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted infections. Designed as a self-evaluating system, people can fill the smart card, evaluate the grades and determine, on their own, if they are vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS.
After a long gap, the authorities met at Visakhapatnam recently to review the progress of various initiatives. The APSACS continues to be one body for two States, which is seen as the cause for many existing problems.
Bifurcation of the State has resulted in slowing down of a series of programmes launched by the SACS to control the spread of the virus. It was almost a norm to launch most of the pilot programmes of the AIDS Control Society either in Vijayawada or in Guntur. But the ‘disturbance’ due to the bifurcation process has resulted in a lull in the activities.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode embraced by the SACS to reach out to a wider section of population afflicted by the virus has, however, shown some positive impact in Krishna district.
With a view to provide HIV prevention, care and treatment to sections that remained outside the realm of its services, the APSACS has roped in private hospitals and nursing homes. Under the PPP model, the department would provide logistic support like HIV test kits and disposable delivery kits to the ‘positive’ patients visiting private hospitals. It would also extend technical support in terms of capacity building, regular monitoring and evaluation.
“This year, we have roped in 18 private hospitals in Krishna district. The collaboration helps us conduct HIV tests and distribute HIV kits to those identified as ‘positive’,” says T.V.S.N. Sastry, District AIDS Control Officer.
“We have brought into our fold even the newly-opened Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in remote areas like Swarlagondi in Nagayalanka mandal and Edurumondi,” says Mr. Sastry.
