Chandigarh to have first Sampoorna Suraksha Kendra in Sector 22
Aim is to reach out to the ‘at-risk’ population for HIV, STIs
CSCAS provides testing facilities at several public events, with the upcoming Rose Festival being one of the events where there will be a stall for testing. With 62 tests per thousand population, in terms of testing, Chandigarh is ranked one of the highest in India, in terms of testing, with the prevalence of HIV in Chandigarh being
0.91 per cent.
WITH a vision to accelerate the national HIV response by reaching out to the at-risk population for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and reducing the HIV and STI new infections, Chandigarh will soon have its first Sampoorna Suraksha Kendra in Sector 22, Chandigarh.
The Sampoorna Suraksha Strategy aims to strengthen the current programme efforts and provide ‘at-risk’ individuals access to combination of HIV prevention services along with access to comprehensive care services. The Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society (CSACS) has initiated a number of new measures to create awareness among the masses about modes of HIV transmission and prevention.
Dr V K Nagpal, Medical Superintendent GMSH-16 joint director of health and project director of CSACS, says the need is to reach out to the areas in the city where high-risk populations reside. “The emphasis is on sensitisation, counselling, bridging gaps and most importantly addressing the stigma attached to HIV\AIDS and how prevention is the key. The Sampoorna Suraksha Strategy will target individuals who are at risk of acquiring HIV or STI due to risky behaviour of self or partners. The identification of individuals will be based on self-initiated people at ICTC, at-risk people identified through population on virtual platforms, dating websites, helplines, social networking sites, youth and adolescents of all genders who are at risk, HIV-negative spouses\partners of HIV-positive people seeking help. We ensure complete privacy and psychosocial support,” adds Dr Nagpal.
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