Jiribam PLHIVs air grievances
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 07 2014:
The absence of HIV/AIDS Testing Centre and ART Centre in Jiribam area has caused great inconveniences to people living with HIV (PLHIVs) of the area.
Addressing a press meet today at Manipur Press Club, Secretary of Jiribam based Handicapped Rehabilitation Organisation (HRO), VT Ranita said there are around 100 PLHIVs in Jiribam area.
Most of them are from economically backward family background.
Since there is no treatment facility for them, PLHIVs had to travel to Imphal which most of them could not afford easily.
Coupled with this is the bad road connectivity, Ranita said.
HRO is the initiative of handicapped women and widows of the area.
Most of its members have eked out their living as embroidery and handicraft artists, she said.
One of its members was diagnosed to have infected with HIV six years after her husband died.
She is living with two sons, Rabita said.
The woman was taken to Silchar for treatment first.
But due to lack of attention from the physicians there, she was brought to Imphal after contacting a functionary of Woman Action for Development (WAD).
With the assistance and care of WAD along with Centre for Social Development members, the woman could return to Jiribam after getting treated.
However, due to the absence of ART Centre in Jiribam area, the health condition of the woman has deteriorated, Rabita pointed out.
The local MLA was also approached for setting up of an ART centre although no steps have been taken up so far for the setting up of the centre.
She further categorically asked whether the Govt is giving a serious thought to save the lives of the HIV+ people there or just waiting the HIV+ people of the area to perish on their own.
The press meet was jointly organised by Positive Platform for Women (PPW), All Manipur Women Forum (AMWF) and HRO.
Speaking at the occasion, Secretary of PPW, Y Sheela said the number of HIV+ people would rise in the State notwithstanding the pledge made on World AIDS Day to bring down the number of HIV infected people to zero level.
She said that many widows, in their efforts to make a living for them and their children, have become sex workers, putting themselves to higher risk of getting HIV infection.
Although HIV test is done free of cost at Govt hospitals, the subsequent tests prior to administering ART drugs are charged.
Nothing tangible has been done to ease this problem although the Govt has been petitioned many times in this regard, she said.
Ningombam Manbi of AMWF pointed out that HIV infected women are stigmatised by the society.
As such they have to bear extra burden in their struggle to live a life.
She urged the Govt to extend the benefits of various schemes like Housing scheme to HIV+ women and widows.