The Hindu : National : NACO opens more HIV treatment centres

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 29, 2006
ePaper

National

National

NACO opens more HIV treatment centres

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has increased the number of centres providing free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) from 54 to 91. Another 9 more centres will get operational soon.

At these centres medicines for treating 85,000 patients have been made available. The centres have specially appointed and trained doctors, counsellors and laboratory technicians to help initiate patients on ART and follow them up regularly.

Combination of drugs

The ART is a combination of three potent drugs being given to those with advanced stage of AIDS.

Though these drugs do not cure HIV infection, they suppress multiplication of the virus and reduce the number of opportunistic infections, improving the quality of life and prolonging the life span.

Apart from providing free treatment, the centres are providing counselling to the infected people on continuing medication. Continuity is the most important factor for the long-term effectiveness of ART drugs as disruption can lead to drug resistance.

At present 40,000 people are on ART, and the number is expected to go up to 85,000 by March end.

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have 13 ART centres each, followed by Karnataka 11 and Andhra Pradesh 10. Kerala has four centres.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National