Move to sensitise medical staff on HIV

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsAnnouncing intent to actively propagate HIV prevention and control programmes in the State, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Odisha Branch, has joined hands with the AIDS Society of India (ASI), to gear up doctors to deal with the disease more effectively.The ASI, in association with the IMA, has launched a training programme for the medical care-givers on the latest advances in the field of treatment and management of HIV/AIDS.The first of the training was held here on Sunday with more than 100 doctors under the IMA, Bhubaneswar branch, taking part in it. The move to train and sensitise the doctors in HIV prevention and care assumes importance as the disease has now become a manageable chronic condition, thanks to advancement in therapeutics and drugs.  HIV treatment has also become affordable and within the reach of all.But lack of awareness, coupled with persistent social stigma associated with the disease, has hindered the reach of treatment to all the patients. There is also a gross under-reporting of cases while non-compliance to treatment regimen has  led to emergence of a greater threat in the form of drug resistance. According to the ASI, more than half of the infected people do not know their HIV status while only around 20 per cent of infections are recorded at NACO. Only 30 per cent of adults, with advanced HIV infections, are receiving ART and as high as 12.5 per cent have lost follow-up treatment or stopped ART in two years.President of ASI, Dr I S Gilada, and Executive chair, ASI, Prof K C Mohanty, said the problem is coupled with the proliferation of quacks, who are misleading the people by claiming total cure for HIV. Driven by the promise, people are flocking to them and are ending up spending huge sums of money. The more disastrous fallout is the increase in drug resistance among the patients. The experts have called for education and sensitisation of the doctors at the grassroots, who would not only carry out awareness programmes to prevent HIV among  people, but also guide the HIV patients properly, in terms of treatment and compliance.  The doctors also need to be equipped to detect opportunistic diseases in HIV patients and treat them accordingly. “The IMA will be holding regular training programmes for doctors”, IMA president, Odisha Branch, Dr Bijay Mishra said.first published:January 01, 1970, 05:30 ISTlast updated:January 01, 1970, 05:30 IST 
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