The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Now hassle-free treatment for AIDS patients

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Now hassle-free treatment for AIDS patients

Staff Reporter

Better infrastructure provided in anti-retroviral therapy wing of GRH

MADURAI: The Anti-retroviral Therapy wing functioning at the Government Rajaji Hospital here has obtained better infrastructure, because of the Collector.

The infected visiting the wing can now get treatment without any hassle.

In a gesture aimed at ameliorating the conditions of persons affected by human immunodeficiency virus\acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (HIV\AIDS) who visit the ART wing and spend long hours waiting for treatment, the Collector, D. Raajendiran, provided Rs.90,000 from his discretionary fund to the health authorities recently.

The entire sum was used for improving facilities at the ART wing and cleaning the surroundings. The infected could now comfortably sit on chairs and wait their turn to receive drugs in a better environment.

Two doctors were appointed and the wing is now functioning in a full swing providing free treatment to patients, the Collector told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Although the AR drugs are provided to HIV\AIDS patients at district headquarters, the ART wing at the GRH is the most sought after treatment centre in southern districts and the number of affected persons thronging the wing for treatment is rather high, an official said.

The AR drugs are being provided to HIV\AIDS patients based on a policy decision of the Government. The first phase of ART programme was launched in Tamil Nadu at the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram, with effect from April 1, 2004.

Similar programme was started at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Madras Medical College Hospital, Chennai and Government District Headquarters Hospital, Namakkal. More than 2400 AIDS patients, in all, were provided free ART.

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