The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Project to increase access to drugs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Project to increase access to drugs

Special Correspondent

It will benefit people with HIV in six high prevalence States

— Photo: K. Pichumani

FOR THE CAUSE OF AIDS PATIENTS: Supriya Sahu, Project Director, Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (second from left), releasing a poster on ‘Promoting access’ launched by people living with HIV in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: The Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+) on Monday launched a project, ‘Promoting Access campaign,’ to increase access to anti-retroviral drugs for people with HIV.

The project, which was launched in 102 districts in the six high prevalence States, will seek to enhance access to medicare, especially anti-retroviral drugs. The campaign will conclude on August 31 in Lucknow, Elango Ramachander, president, INP+, said.

Bus passes

Supriya Sahu, project director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TNSACS), said seven new ARV centres would be launched in the State.

The Society was considering proposals to provide bus passes to the victims to enable them to reach ARV centres, and to link ARV centres with district community centres so that short-term stay would also be possible for those who travel from afar.

B. Chandra Mohan, project director, APAC–VHS, said more people would have to be brought under the anti-retroviral drugs. S. Rajasekharan, superintendent, Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, said at least 3.9 per cent of those under anti-retroviral drugs would have to progress to the second line of drugs.

Actor Manoj released a poster on the campaign and handed over the first copy to music director Vijay Antony.

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