Monday, April 15, 2013

Newspaper Sources Data from SACS, says "More women contract AIDS"

Published on Deccan Chronicle (http://www.deccanchronicle.com)

More women contract AIDS

DC | Jose Kurian | 14 April 2013

Kozhikode: Despite the claims of Kerala state AIDS control society (KSACS) over the diminishing trend in HIV infection, the number of women affected with HIV is alarmingly high. Thiruvananthapuram district tops the list with 1,749 women (total 4,565) affected with HIV as per the details sourced by DC from KSACS under the Right to Information act.

Going by the data, among the total 23,206 HIV patients registered in the state, 9,062 are women (39.05%). Among the total 11,919 patients who tested positive during the last five years (between 2008 and 2013) 4,535 were women (38.04%).

Among districts, Thrissur is in the second slot with 1,520 women (total 3,806) whereas Kozhikode is in the third slot with 1,520 women (total 3,646). Wayanad district registered the least number of women. (71 women, total 201).

The number of women infected with HIV in other districts were Kollam- 323 (total 794), Pathanamthitta -213 (total-542), Alappuzha- 374 (total -956), Ernakulam- 525 (total 1496), Idukky-161 (total-326), Kottayam -879 (total-2035), Malappuram- 146 (total 408), Palakkad 831 (total 1996), Kannur- 432 (total- 1302) and Kasargod- 477 (total 1133).

Among the patients registered at the eight Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres which provide free treatment to HIV patients attached to government hospitals in the state, ART centre at Thrissur medical college hospital (MCH) tops the list with 1,864 women closely followed by MCH, Kozhikode (1,461) and MCH, Thiruvana-nthapuram (1,416).

Going by the KSACS data in the total 18,418 patients registered at the ART centres, 7,149 are women, 10,289 are men and 980 children.

Source URL: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130414/news-current-affairs/article/more-women-contract-aids

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Civic Bodies Role in HIV Response: State Government Issues Guidelines

Published: April 11, 2013

Civic bodies set to take a 'positive' initiative

Staff Reporter

Local bodies in the district will take the initiative of providing assistance to people with HIV. The government has announced guidelines for civic bodies to extend services and assistance to HIV-positive people.

Awareness campaign

Local bodies will coordinate activities such as organising awareness campaigns on transmission of HIV, identifying HIV-positive people, supplying nutritional food to victims, starting programmes to offer social and mental support to victims, initiating welfare activities, setting up adequate facilities at treatment centres and giving assistance to service providers.

As of now the Kerala Aids Control Society and the Health Department have been providing assistance to the HIV victims. The guidelines have been prepared by the Kerala Institute of Local Administration and the Kerala Aids Control Society under the direction of the government. P.P. Balan, director of KILA, said training would be provided to local bodies based on the guidelines.

"The local bodies can play a leading role in organising HIV detection camps, providing financial assistance to conduct laboratory tests and make available medicines and homecare facilities, setting up of social organisations for helping HIV victims and providing educational assistance for the children of HIV-positive people," Mr. Balan said.

Civic bodies also could take the initiative in providing pension, unemployment wages, assistance under Asraya project, basic amenities like housing, toilets, electricity and drinking water, employment training and self-employment opportunities, he said. The guidelines suggest that local bodies can ensure quality services for HIV victims in hospitals under their control.

They can also provide infrastructure facilities for safety projects under the Kerala State Aids Control Society.

Monitoring committee

The guidelines also propose the setting up of a committee with the local body president as chairperson, health standing committee chairman as vice-chairman, medical officer as convenor, and two NGOs working in the field as members, to monitor and coordinate the implementation of activities. The District Planning committee will monitor the district-level activities. The district-level activities will be reviewed by a committee with district planning committee chairman as head and district collector as convenor.

Government prepares guidelines for civic bodies to extend assistance to HIV-positive people.

Printable version | Apr 13, 2013 9:03:21 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/civic-bodies-set-to-take-a-positive-initiative/article4605109.ece

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