Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120151520300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Nearly 700 children affected by HIV

R. Arivanantham

Measures taken to check spread of AIDS

Photo: N. Bashkaran

Preventive measures: The Community Care Centre near National Highway 7 in Krishnagiri. –

KRISHNAGIRI: Krishnagiri is one among the 10 highly prevalent HIV district in Tamil Nadu, according to a latest study by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO).

G. Anand, District Programe Manager of the Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society told The Hindu that since Krishnagiri shared border with Karnataka and is very close to Bangalore, about 4,000 commercial sex workers are found languishing in the district. According to UNICEF, there are about 700 children infected with HIV.To control aids infection in children, the society was taking various steps including identifying pregnant women with HIV and giving them medicines. So far 36,000 pregnant women have been screened. Out of which 410 were infected with HIV. Only 259 reported at the HIV counseling centres. The others have to be located. In the case of males 9,000 have been screened. It was found that 340 were infected with HIV.

A Target Intervention Programme will be organised for female sex workers and migrant workers with the help of Non Governmental Organisations.

In addition to this, UNICEF will organise a Link Workers Programme to enable the NGOs working in rural high risk areas. They will act as a bridge between the HIV infected people in rural areas and the government workers. Indian Red Cross Society and Community Care Centre in Krishnagiri have jointly set up an AIDS counseling centre near the bus stand and very close to the National Highway No. 7.

The centre has a counselling centre, Nambikkai Maiyam.his centre has been provided with one Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre mobile van and mortuary van. A total of 17 persons, including two doctors and three nurses, were working at the Maiyam. It has a facility to admit 12 patients. The team will tour for two days in all the 10 blocks to conduct blood test. So far testing has been done for 5,000 people. Out of which 75 were found to be infected with HIV, said Mr. P. Shanmugam, Joint Secretary (Adminstration).