Imphal, February 09 2009: Inspite of the necessity of finding out the CD4 count of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs ) for undergoing treatment, JN Hospital at Porompat is set to stop providing the service with effect from tomorrow (Feb 10) .

The main reason behind the decision to stop the service is the alleged failure of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) to provide FACS-Reagents to the Microbiology Department of the Hospital which are essential for conducting the CD4 count.

It is said that the required FACS-Reagents have not been provided to the hospital since September 8, 2008 .

In connection with stopping the service of CD4 count, the Microbiology Department has also written to the ART in-charge of the Hospital Dr Priyokumar.

Talking to mediapersons and members of USER Manipur in his regard at his office chamber today, Dr Priyokumar pointed out that the first and the foremost necessity before providing treatment to PLWHAs is to find out their CD4 count.

Presently, there are also around 80 PLWHAs enrolled in the ART centre of the hospital awaiting for CD4 count test as there is no FACS-Reagents.

Till September 8 last year, the ART Centre of the hospital used to borrow the Reagents from other centre for conducting the test.

Drawing the immediate attention of the authority concerned, Dr Priyokumar also highlighted other related problems being faced in treatment of HIV at the hospital.

While informing that around 4,893 clients have been enrolled in the ART centre of the hospital till January 31 this year and ART treatment is being provided to around 2,015 client, Dr Priyokumar pointed out that as per the guidelines of NACO, there would be a minimum of four counsellors in a centre where there are 2000 clients under ART treatment, but at present there are only two counsellors in the hospital making it difficult to counsel all the clients coming to take the medicines.

Moreover, even if there is provision for appointing three doctors as per the guidelines, at present there are only two doctors.

The two doctors cannot stay at the hospital all the time as sometime they have go for work outside the State apart from other personal engagements at home.

In such a situation, providing clinical service to the clients coming for medical treatment is impossible.

As the rooms in the ART centre of the hospital are very small, there is also the problem of overcrowding, Dr Priyokumar said, and added that because of all these problems, cases of drug resistance among the ART clients has been on the rise.

In connection with the medicines for Opportunistic Infections (OIs) being provided from the hospital, Dr Priyokumar disclosed that among the required OI medicines, Fungizole has not been supplied by MACS for the last 4 months and the clients are getting the required 14 injection after purchasing the medicine costing Rs 300 per injection from outside.

The existing stock of Itracomazole is running out, he added.

While informing that all these difficulties have already been brought to the notice of MACS, Dr Priyokumar also called upon all concerned for taking up necessary measures towards ensuring the existing ART centre at the hospital to function smoothly so as to extend quality treatment to the clients.

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