Imphal, November 17 2009: With the CD4 machine installed at the State Government run JN Hospital, Porompat, lying defunct , many people living with HIV (PLWHs), who need to find out their CD4 count reguarly, have been compelled to shell out their hard earned in going to the private hospitals for the test.

According to information received by the press, the CD4 machine installed in the Microbiology Department of the Hospital has been out of service since November 13, thus compelling many PLWHs, who are urgently in need of finding out their CD4 count to go to private hospitals spending Rs 500 per test.

A top official of the Microbiology Department has assured that for repairing of the machine, engineers from outside the State have been called.

It is said that the CD4 machine at JN Hospital has been conducting test on CD4 count at a maximum average of 40 patients everyday with exception on Tuesday and Saturday, the days when servicing of the machine is carried out.

The official further explained that finding out the CD4 count of the patient is very essential for treatment of HIV.

Once an individual confirms his or her HIV positive status, then due attention should be given to find out the level of CD4 count in their body system.

Accordingly, ART treatment is to be provided.

For those who are already under ART treatment, regular monitoring of their CD4 count is essential to find out effectiveness of the treatment.

Test on CD4 count should be carried out atleast after an interval of every six months.

There are at present 2172 patients who are on ART treatment from JN Hospital though the total number of patients registered in the ART centre of the hospital is 5428 .

The official went on to inform that efforts are being made for repairing the CD4 machine at the earliest possible and engineers from outside the State have been called for the purpose.

However, nothing can be said as to when the machine would start functioning.

Since the ART centre at JN Hospital is being functioned under the sponsorship of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the matter has already been brought to its notice, the official added.

In connection with the breakdown of the CD4 machine in JN Hospital, president of Manipur Network of Positive People L Deepak observed that PLWHs are already under financial constraints.

So the provision for free testing of CD4 count under NACO is a boon for them.

For conducting the same test at some private hospitals, one has to shell out atleast Rs 500 per test.

This is a huge amount for these poor patients.

So every possible measures should be taken up to repair at the soonest possible.

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