New ART Centre gives ray of hope to HIV/AIDS patients in Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei
Tamenglong, October 31 2013:
With Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong C Arthur W, IAS, on Thursday formally opening an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at Tamenglong District Hospital, the burden of the HIV/AIDS patients in the district is extended to be reduced at least to some extent.
However, there is no CD4 count machine at the newly opened centre.
According to an official source, there are as many as 309 HIV/AIDS patients including women and children in the district as per a survey conducted.
Among the patients, only 51 are are taking Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) .
The opening of the ART Centre began with prayer by Rev.T.P Mordecai, Executive Secretary of Rongmei Naga Baptist Association.
After cutting of the red ribbon to inaugurate the ART Centre, the formal function was held in the campus of Tamenglong district hospital with Dr..LTomcha Khuman, Deputy Director (ART) of MACS and Dr.Chambo Gonmei, Chief Medical Officer of Tamenglong as guest of honour and president respectively.
Doctors and nurses of Tamenglong as well as staffs of newly opened ART Centre along with Linked Workers were present on the occasion.
In his speech as chief guest of the function, C.Arthur W observed that the rate of HIV and AIDS infection in Tamenglong district has been recorded low mainly from lack of awareness among the people.
He appealed to the District AIDS Control Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Tamenglong and concerned department to process and get the other required equipments for the newly opened ART Centre.
Speaking as guest of honour, Dr..LTomcha Khuman said that the long cherished desire of the people in Tamenglong to have ART Centre has been finally fulfilled today.
He pointed out that the required fund for setting up the ART Centre for Tamenglong was sanctioned by NACO in 2012 and subsequently the State Cabinet gave its approval for recruiting the staffs of ART Centre.
Dr Tomcha hoped that since the staffs of the newly opened ART centre at Tamenglong district hospital have been recruited from among the local people only unlike in other ART centres,they perform their duties sincerely for the welfare of their own fellow men and women.
Dr.Chambo Gonmei, Chief Medical Officer, Tamenglong, who also spoke on the occasion, expressed hope that with the establishment of the ART Centre, HIV and AIDS patients in Tamenglong district will be benefited a lot and their burden lessen to a large extent.
"Now the patients would not need to go to Imphal spending huge money.
This is our great achievement", Dr Chambo Gonmei said, and called upon all the doctors and the nurses to work sincerely.