Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Tamilnadu Containing HIV: Needles Of Danger

IIPM Mumbai Campus

State Aids control society has a challenge in tackling IDUs

Although Tamilnadu has shown a decline in the number of HIV-affected persons (in 2001 the prevalence rate was one per cent that has come down to 0.23 per cent in the state), the challenges are not over as yet.

The growing number of intravenous drug users (IDUs) is a matter of concern for Tamilnadu Aids Control Society (TANSAC). Talking to TSI, Amutha, project director of TANSAC points out that the spreading of HIV through the needles is faster than through other modes. Indian Market Research Bureau has identified around 400 intravenous drug users in Tamilnadu and found that 96 (92 in Chennai and four in Madurai) of them were infected with HIV. According to estimates, the actual figure may be higher than that.
“We are taking immediate steps to contain this number. Apart from creating awareness regarding the spread of HIV among the people, we make the identified IDUs undergo regular medical check ups. Most of the drug users are youths. They usually take drugs in groups. Often they share a single needle which increases the chances of the transmission of HIV from an infected person to a healthy one. This way it spreads very rapidly,” says Amutha. As these persons carry out these activities in the dark or at secluded places, and since many of them keep moving from one place to another, it is not easy to identify and treat them, she adds. Most of the IDUs are college students, construction workers and migrant labourers.

“Some NGOs have been entrusted with the task of identifying the IDUs. These NGOs have been given certain targets in numbers. Once the victims are identified, we take them into our control and treat them,” says Vendher Vendan, joint director, Target Intervention, TANSAC. There are four core groups which are given priority and are regularly monitored by TANSAC to control the spreading of HIV. They are, female sex workers, IDUs, homosexuals and migrant truckers.

Rakesh, who contracted HIV through intravenous drug usage, tells TSI, “I started using drug injections for fun, but after some days it became a regular habit. A friend of mine was HIV positive. Ignorant of his health status, I shared a needle with him and ended up as HIV positive.” It should also be noted that not only HIV, many other diseases also spread through sharing needles and syringes which can be very dangerous.

TANSAC has also started a new project of fixing up automatic condom vending machines. The machines are especially installed near liquor shops and in red light areas. Nearly 1000 automatic condom vending machines have already been fixed near liquor shops in the capital city, according to officials. As World AIDS Day is observed on December 1, TANSAC has fixed an ambitious target for itself— that by 2012 there should be no new HIV patient in the state.

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