The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : In aid of HIV positive patients

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

In aid of HIV positive patients

S.S. Kavitha

Counselling, `touch therapy,' treatment for `opportunistic infections' being provided

MADURAI: Thirty-eight-year-old Chandrasekeran of Koodal Nagar, a tanker lorry driver, led a happy and normal life till he met with an accident. "I was weighing 80 kg. But, after the accident a blood test certified me as a HIV positive patient and I began to lose weight. I became mentally ill on being treated a sinner. But now, at the AIDS Care Centre, I feel at home."

The Family Planning Association of India established a centre in 1999 at Ellis Nagar. It took up the challenge of providing institutional care and support to people with HIV or AIDS with funds from the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society.

The centre caters to patients from 15 districts, including Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Coimbatore, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Karur and Erode.

The number of patients admitted to the 10-bed care centre has risen from 89 in 1999 to 368 in 2004. Among the 368 patients, 202 are male, and 313 patients are married. A majority of the patients, 68.5 per cent to be precise, are from rural areas, according to the branch manager of the association, Louis S. Paulraj.

Field workers distribute pamphlets on HIV and AIDS at bus stands, railway stations and hospitals and wait for people to approach them.

Care at the centre

The counsellor, P. Surendran, says counselling plays a vital role in creating happiness and instilling confidence in the patients. Counselling is done at various levels — face-to-face, in groups, over the hotline, with the family and during rehabilitation.

Apart from counselling, `touch therapy' has done wonders to the patients in boosting their morale. At the third level, the centre provides treatment for `opportunistic infections' such as chronic fever, diarrhoea, pulmonary tuberculosis etc.

Mr. Surendran says that when a patient reaches the `terminal stage' he is referred to Government Rajaji Hospital, which gives anti-retroviral therapy. During their stay at the centre, patients are given proper care, diet and treatment for opportunistic infections.

Even after the death of the patient, rehabilitation counselling is given to the kith and kin of the deceased. The centre makes arrangements for the death certificates and recommends the case of the widow for pension.

As a result of the training and awareness programmes, there is an increase in the admission of HIV positive individuals and in the number of visitors and attendants.

This is a sure sign of a reduction in the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.

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