The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : "Surge in HIV-affected seeking treatment"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

"Surge in HIV-affected seeking treatment"

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is witnessing a revolutionary change in the provision of care to the HIV-affected, said Supriya Sahu, project director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS).

The last six months have witnessed a surge in the number of those seeking Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), she said here on Friday.

Speaking at the tenth anniversary of the Indian Network for Positive People (INP+), she said with more than 19,000 people receiving ART, the State had among the highest coverage in the country.

V.K. Subburaj, Secretary to the Health and Family Welfare Department, said statistics showed that 38 per cent of those who tested positive for HIV were women. Prevalence was higher in the rural areas, with 57 per cent of cases from the villages. The government's highest priorities were to contain the epidemic and provide treatment and counselling to the infected, he said. Mr. Subburaj later released advocacy posters of the INP+. The Network, a national movement run by HIV positive people, was founded in 1997 and covers several thousand people from 22 States. The official website of the State-level network was launched at the event. The Network can be contacted over 2432 9580 or 81.

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