Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Mobile HIV testing centres launched

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy launched mobile Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) vans to enable people access health and counselling services and detection of HIV/AIDS at their doorstep here on Tuesday.

The ICTC vans, named ‘Mee Nestam’ (Your Friend) were started under Public Private Partnership with the government providing the vehicles and the NGOs managing the services.

In the first phase five mobile ICTC vans would provide services in tribal and remote areas and high prevalence districts in the State as it was found that high risk/ vulnerable populations were less likely to access fixed facility ICTCs due to several impediments, importantly distance and timing.

The vans with necessary equipment, test kits, consumables, trained counsellors and lab technicians would provide counselling, HIV testing, distribute condoms and referral services for STD treatment and other infections, anti-retroviral therapy etc. In the second phase during January, February, 2009, another six ICTC vans would be added, said AP State AIDS Control Society Project Director R.V. Chandravadan.

The Chief Minister also launched ‘Sahara’ identity cards to be provided to all the patients receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy medicines from the designated ART centres in the State. The cards would be useful not only for patient identification but also empower them to access services from the ART centres located across the State. Sahara cards would also help in addressing the issues related to stigma and discrimination of AIDS affected.

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