'State has only one Viral Load Machine for people living with HIV'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 30 2015:
MNP+ President L Deepak on Monday informed that Manipur has only one viral load machine which is vital for the treatment of people living with HIV.
During an interaction with Hueiyen Lanpao prior to the observation of World Aids Day, L Deepak admitted that viral load machines are necessary for the treatments of persons living with HIV.
Only RIMS, Lamphel is reported to have one such machine, said Deepak.
The machine helps in measuring the quantity of HIV in a blood sample and accordingly doctors help in prescribing doses of medicines based on the findings.
"The State's failure to acquire such an important machine in sufficient numbers is unfortunate," said Deepak.
He also informed that people living with HIV in the State do not have the privilege of going for the test at RIMS in times of requirement.
Deepak further stated that the numbers of persons living with HIV have suffered from Hepatitis-C Co-Infection and their numbers are increasing day by day.
Many of them are facing immense difficulties as the cost of treatment for the Hepatitis C is high, said Deepak.
Deepak mentioned that few patients had to spend around Rs 6 lakh to have the full dose of medicine for Hepatitis C just before the month of March last.
However, most of the patients have started spending around Rs 1 lakh for the treatment as the Government had reduced the prices of Hepatitis C after the month of March.
Sources said that Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland come under high prevalence of HIV+ in the Northeast States.
In 2013 record, a total of 43 thousand people were said to be living with HIV in Manipur.
According to the Technical Report of NACO 2012, a total of 12,804 people were living with HIV in Assam, added the source.