Govt, doctors abandon HIV positive patients
Karnataka’s fight against HIV/AIDS has been hit temporarily.
Some doctors, who were rendering free services to HIV positive victims, have stopped work because they allege that they are getting no help from the government. Dr I. S. Gilada, secretary of the AIDS Society of India, blames the state government for the sudden spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
“HIV cases have come down in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu — two high-risk states. But Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, once low-risk states, have become high-risk zones. Both Karnataka and Andhra have ignored experts’ warnings to initiate awareness campaigns,” says Gilada.
But Dr S. B. Doddamani, deputy director of the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) disagrees. Calling the allegation baseless, he praises the government for taking initiatives to check the spread of HIV/AIDS. “We have not ignored directions given by experts. We always make sure that all the necessary processes are carried out successfully. We are opening more testing centres, blood banks, community care centres,” Dr Doddamani tells TSI.
However, current data, culled out by agencies, tell a different story. Karnataka, which once was a low-risk state, now occupies second place in the number of HIV positive and AIDS patients in India. There has been a surge in the number of HIV positive cases in the state. Interestingly, the government officials have no explanation. Rather they take a different stand. Says Dr Doddamani: “It is not that the HIV/AIDS cases have increased in the state as being reported in the media. Rather, we are finding hidden cases which were already there. We are making the necessary effort to combat the spread of the disease.”
But doctors are unwilling to buy this argument. Upset with the government’s clumsy approach in dealing with the dreaded disease, doctors have pulled out of free service. They are unwilling to restart their service in remote areas.
Says Dr Satish, who has been providing free service to HIV patients for the last 14 years: “I am really fed up. I don’t want to render free service anymore. Earlier, I used to put my life at risk by travelling to remote villages in Northern Karnataka to treat patients, but not anymore. I don’t want anything from the government. But it should recognise our contribution because it doesn’t even reimburse our expenses. I know many doctors who have stopped rendering their free services because of the government’s attitude.”
Unperturbed by this development, the Karnataka government plans to constitute Community Based Organisation (CBO) to bring changes at the grassroot level. From now onwards, it won’t be banking on NGOs and doctors. But what about patients languishing in the flood-hit areas of Northern Karnataka? The government and the doctors have no answers.
Karnataka’s fight against HIV/AIDS has been hit temporarily.
Some doctors, who were rendering free services to HIV positive victims, have stopped work because they allege that they are getting no help from the government. Dr I. S. Gilada, secretary of the AIDS Society of India, blames the state government for the sudden spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.“HIV cases have come down in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu — two high-risk states. But Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, once low-risk states, have become high-risk zones. Both Karnataka and Andhra have ignored experts’ warnings to initiate awareness campaigns,” says Gilada.
But Dr S. B. Doddamani, deputy director of the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) disagrees. Calling the allegation baseless, he praises the government for taking initiatives to check the spread of HIV/AIDS. “We have not ignored directions given by experts. We always make sure that all the necessary processes are carried out successfully. We are opening more testing centres, blood banks, community care centres,” Dr Doddamani tells TSI.
However, current data, culled out by agencies, tell a different story. Karnataka, which once was a low-risk state, now occupies second place in the number of HIV positive and AIDS patients in India. There has been a surge in the number of HIV positive cases in the state. Interestingly, the government officials have no explanation. Rather they take a different stand. Says Dr Doddamani: “It is not that the HIV/AIDS cases have increased in the state as being reported in the media. Rather, we are finding hidden cases which were already there. We are making the necessary effort to combat the spread of the disease.”
But doctors are unwilling to buy this argument. Upset with the government’s clumsy approach in dealing with the dreaded disease, doctors have pulled out of free service. They are unwilling to restart their service in remote areas.
Says Dr Satish, who has been providing free service to HIV patients for the last 14 years: “I am really fed up. I don’t want to render free service anymore. Earlier, I used to put my life at risk by travelling to remote villages in Northern Karnataka to treat patients, but not anymore. I don’t want anything from the government. But it should recognise our contribution because it doesn’t even reimburse our expenses. I know many doctors who have stopped rendering their free services because of the government’s attitude.”
Unperturbed by this development, the Karnataka government plans to constitute Community Based Organisation (CBO) to bring changes at the grassroot level. From now onwards, it won’t be banking on NGOs and doctors. But what about patients languishing in the flood-hit areas of Northern Karnataka? The government and the doctors have no answers.
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