The Hindu : Front Page : Demand for indispensable drug on the rise

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 23, 2006

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Demand for indispensable drug on the rise

R. Krishnamoorthy

Anti-retroviral Therapy medicines prolong the life of beneficiaries by 10 years

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TIRUCHI: The number of HIV-positive patients seeking Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) medicines has almost touched 300 in the district over a period of six months, ever since the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at the K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital commenced the medication.

According to hospital sources, there has been a steady increase in the number of beneficiaries of this expensive drug, supplied free of cost. An ultimate, yet temporary, hope for HIV patients in advanced stage of infection, this drug could, at the most, prolong the life by 10 years. A major cause for concern is that most of these patients belong to a productive age group.

Only those whose CD4 count is less than 200 are eligible to obtain the ART drugs. But there are several hundreds of youths on the threshold of seeking the treatment, inform counsellors of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTC). In particular, a chunk of HIV patients affected by tuberculosis owing to their lesser immunity are advised against seeking this therapy as it could affect their liver.

Coming out of the closet

An encouraging development, however, is that people have begun to approach the VCTCs in large numbers shunning inhibitions to get themselves tested. There have even been instances of MSMs (men having sex with men) among professionals, and those frequenting commercial sex workers seeking counselling from such centres.

"Such people come in a severely distressed state. Yet, no extent of advice could change their habit. As a last resort, we supply them with condoms and jelly to prevent infection," said a doctor attached to one of the VCTCs in the city, which has records indicating the presence of over 400 HIV patients at various stages of infection.

The major reason for the infection is the rejection of condoms by customers of commercial sex workers. The Centre, which also works with commercial sex workers, has been attempting to prevail upon such women to use condoms, but has met only with limited success.

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