By this time of the year, the district AIDS Control officials are busy implementing a string of programmes designed by the AP State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) to eradicate the disease.
But there is a conspicuous lull in their activities and the dormant state is attributed to the uncertainty that prevails in the SACS. The fact that the division of the AIDS Control Society has not been taken up post-bifurcation and this has led to uncertainty that compounds confusion among the officials.
Despite bifurcation, the SACS, both for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is headed by the same Project Director. Reports indicate that several keys posts have been lying vacant for a long time, a fact that has contributed to the non-functioning of the Society.
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Citing Schedule-10 of the AP Reorganisation Act, officials at the local level say that the SACS comes under this Schedule and thus, it may take some time to divide the body.
Things would be streamlined once the Telangana SACS comes into being, feel most officials. We are unable to take up any new scheme or programme since the APSACS is in the process of working out on the division mechanisms.
Meanwhile, our focus is on streamlining and strengthening the existing programmes at the grass roots level,” says Additional District Medial and Health Officer and Krishna District AIDS Control Officer T.V.S.N. Sastry.
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Screening patients The district officials recently screened over 3,000 residents of VAMBAY Colony. Of them, 35 were found to HIV-positive.
“Instead of disclosing immediately, we refer the persons to the nearest centre to carry out the three mandatory tests for confirmation of the infection.
This is followed up by counselling sessions and medication,” he explains.
The Krishna district has achieved the feat of converting all primary health centres (PHCs) into Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs).
This has enabled the HIV-afflicted patients to visit these centres without the fear of social discrimination.
PPP mode Embracing the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, the authorities have collaborated with local private hospitals to conduct HIV tests and distribute HIV kits to those identified as ‘positive’.
“There is enough awareness now thanks to the string of programmes implemented effectively in the past. Our idea is to translate this awareness into action,” says Dr. Sastry.