MSHRC issues notice to state govt over AIDS programme

On Thursday, MSHRC chairperson Justice S R Bannurmath said that the commission took note of media reports highlighting the plight of poor patients unable to avail free drugs under the National Aids Control Program

NOTICING ERRATIC provision of medicines, lack of infrastructure and inability to provide a free flow of condoms for curbing incidence of HIV infection, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) issued a notice to state government asking why funds are not available to run the program smoothly.

On Thursday, MSHRC chairperson Justice S R Bannurmath said that the commission took note of media reports highlighting the plight of poor patients unable to avail free drugs under the National Aids Control Program (NACO).

“We have asked the government to provide a report on the AIDS program. It has been brought to our notice that infrastructure is poor and funds are not available” Bannurmath said.

NACO runs a free national programme for HIV affected patients by providing anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and by creating a provision for routine tests to check the CD4 count of patients. According to experts, if a patient misses even a single daily dose, chances of drug resistance in them are high .

The issue of “erratic fund disemminatio” was brought up by NGO Sangram at the National Human Rights Commission hearing Wednesday which claimed that free condom distribution had stopped in the last six months for high risk category, such as that of sex workers, truck drivers, gay men, trangenders and injectible drug users in Sangli district.” “Poor patients cannot buy condoms or drugs on their own for fighting this disease. Those who miss their daily drugs are prone to drug resistanc”,” said Meena Seshu from Sangram.

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