The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Condom vending machines hit a snag

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Condom vending machines hit a snag

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, NOV. 30. A technical snag in the functioning of condom vending machines (CVMs) in Hyderabad has delayed the installation of CVMs here, though the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) has taken an in-principle decision to this effect long ago. After a survey commissioned by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) through a private agency, reported that access to condoms takes a long time in the State, it was decided to install CVMs at locations identified as hotspots for spread of HIV/AIDS.

A cursory look at the HIV/AIDS figures in the district throws light on the seriousness of the threat in Visakhapatnam. As per official figures, 4,570 HIV and 520 AIDS cases were confirmed in the district (excluding cases reported at private nursing homes/hospitals).

Counselling

"We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to spread awareness among the vulnerable groups, promote social marketing of condoms even in the agency areas and offer counselling to doctors and their patients to remove the stigma attached to the disease,'' the District Nodal Officer for HIV/AIDS, P. Rajendra Prasad, told The Hindu on Tuesday.

The APSACS will tie up with Hindustan Latex Limited for installing CVMs in the city and other places in the district once the problems encountered with the machines in Hyderabad are rectified. Dr. Prasad said they would organise condom promotion programme through kalajathas and a skit on December 7.

Testing HIV positive

Incidentally, 30 to 35 per cent of the patients visiting the STD and AIDS Counselling Department at King George Hospital are testing HIV positive.

Voluntary counselling and testing centres (VCTC) functioning at KGH, INSH Kalyani (Naval Base), area hospitals at Anakapalle and Narsipatnam and Community Health Centre at Araku are offering free check-up and pre and post-test counselling to the patients.

The VCTCs reported 1,057 positive cases in 2002-03, 1,457 in 2003-04 and 1,053 in 2004-05 (till October). Through blood bank donations, 507 HIV positive cases were detected since 2002-03. The Prevention of Parent to Child Centres (PPCC) at KGH, Victoria Government Hospital and Anakapalle Area Hospital have confirmed 480 cases during last three years.

The only care centre for the terminally ill has come up at Kondala Agraharam near Narsipatnam.

The Emmanuel Ministries runs a 15-bed hospital for the terminally ill at the centre. "We need to improve facilities to take care of the patients. t is unfortunate that premier hospitals like KGH do not have funds for anti-retro viral therapy," the noted physician and former NACO member, Kutikuppala Surya Rao, said. KGH at present offers only treatment for opportunistic infections like tuberculosis and fungal infections.

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