Dial 626506, and you can have any query on AIDS answered. The AIDS hotline at the Sassoon General Hospital came as a boon to those who wished to know more about the illness. Inundated with phone calls from AIDS patients, doctors and common citizens ever since its creation on January 5, this year by Daulatrao Aher, state health minister, the success of such a service is beyond doubt. So much so that various hospitals all over the state are taking efforts to initiate such round-the-clock counselling.Meanwhile, the Sassoon Hospital has moved on to take another initiative to reach out to AIDS patients, and has opened a Viral Out Patient Department especially for such people. With this, it has notched up one more first to its credit.Meanwhile, the hotline continues to do well. Maharashtra AIDS Control Committee Project Director Medha Gadgil and Medical Education and Research Secretary T.C. Benjamin visited the Sassoon Hospital on Thursday and inspected the AIDS hotline service. They also discussed the possibilities of setting up similar hotlines in other cities as well. A separate telephone line will shortly be provided at the cell for those doctors conducting research in this field and also treating AIDS patients.During the visit, Medha Gadgil gave an assurance to provide all the necessary equipment required for the upgradation of the hotline service. Assistance will be taken from experts at Sassoon Hospital to replicate the hotline at other centres. The hotline cell has been opened under the guidance of dean of Sassoon Dr Mrudula Phadke and is headed by Dr P S Patki.
