Staff, equipment missing as AIDS centre opens its door

VADODARA, MAY 17: Today was to be the first operational day of the State's first AIDS Counselling Centre' at the SSG Hospital here. Supp...

VADODARA, MAY 17: Today was to be the first operational day of the State8217;s first AIDS Counselling Centre8217; at the SSG Hospital here. Supposed to be run by medical experts and social workers between 8.30 am and 12.30 pm, it was staffed by neither, and so had to be shut down around 11 am.

Twenty-four hours after State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt announced his major plans for the centre, it became clear that it would become functional only sometime next week. Apart from the staff, it is yet to be fitted out with equipment like computers that can help in maintaining records, according to official sources in the SSG Hospital.

Hospital superintendent Dr Kamal Pathak and centre in-charge Dr Yogesh Marfatia, however, were blase about the anti-climax. Pathak said since today was 8220;just the first day8221;, there would have been no enquiries as such, permitting the early closure.

Marfatia, on the other hand, admitted that they were yet to appoint counsellors, which could take a couple of days.

8220;Moreover, I am yet to arrange other equipment for the centre8221;, he said, adding that the phone counselling was at least three months away.

Moreover, sources said, experts of skin and venereal diseases, obstetrics and gynacology, preventive and social medicine and psychiatry, who would officiate at the centre, were yet to be named. Their duties, too, were ambiguous at present, they said.

About the role of the Centre, Marfatia said that though doctors in the skin and venereal diseases department already counselled patients of sexually transmitted diseases, the same work would now be done by the professional counsellors 8212; a man and a woman 8212; at the centre in consultation with of hospital and college experts.

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The centre, when it is fully functional, would provide all answers about sexuality and sexual activities, besides free pre-test and post-test counselling, free condoms and literature on sexual health. 8220;We plan a publicity drive soon, as otherwise the people will not get to know about the centre8221;, Marfatia said.