Imphal, February 06 2009: The Rapid Intervention and Care (RIAC) projects being implemented in Thoubal district as part of the Targeted Intervention Programme of Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) have been found to be functioning only in name sake.

Volunteers of USER Manipur today went to inspect and monitor the implementation of RIAC projects in different parts of Thoubal district and found out that out of the total 8 RIAC projects taken up, most of them are functioning only in name sake.

Even those which are seemingly functioning are also not being able to achieve the target set as a result failure on the part of MACS to release the required fund on time.

It is through these RIAC projects that drop-in-centres are being set up to provide services related to prevention of HIV from one person to another.

As per the guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), services of the programmes like Needle/Syringe Exchange, Ulcer/Abscess Management, Psychological support, STI treatment, condom promotion, VCTC, DOTs reference, IEC dissemination, etc are supposed to be provided to the needy people at these drop-in-centres.

There should also be outreach workers and peer educators in all these centres to help the people coming to avail the services.

However, during the inspection today the drop-in-centre at Tentha Khunou Bazar which is being run by SWEAR, an NGO partner of MACS was found locked with no official around.

An elderly person of the area informed that the drop-in-centre used to be functional around one year back but now none of its staff are coming.

At the drop-in-centre of Rural Voluntary Service located at Wangjing Bazar, with exception to one counsellor and one outreach worker, none of the officials were found attending to their duties although it was already 11 .30 am.

Similarly, at the drop-in-centre which is under the HIV/Intervention Programme DIC, Thoubal, none of the important functionaries were at the office although it was already 11 am.

One Akoijam Bharat, who identified himself as the caretaker of the centre informed that the officials may be at another centre at Moijing which is also being run by the same organisation.

During the inspection visit of the drop-in-centre run by All Manipur Rural Services at Khongjom, project manager Md Wahidur informed that though the needle/syringe exchange programme is being implemented, there is the problem of lack adequate medical equipments.

The staff of the centre have also not receiving their salary for the last 7 months as no fund has been released by MACS, he added.

Only at the drop-in-centre run by Youth Adventure Rural Development at Kakching Bazar, the staff were found performing their duties in full strength.

However, the project manager of the centre A Manileima has the same complaint over the failure of MACS to release the required fund for the last 7 month.

Inspite of that, she informed that the centre has been continuing the needle/syringe exchange programme and condom promotion though extension of medical support and reference has not been able to continue, thus causing difficult in maintaining the relationship between the clients and the outreach workers/peer educators and holding group discussion, she added.

Two drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres being run under the support of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment were also covered in the inspection today.

Comment