11/30/2016
Nitesh
Sangral
Early
Times Report
Jammu,
Nov 30: Poor facilities and indifference meted out to over 4900 HIV/ AIDS
patients registered with Jammu and Kashmir State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS)
have impelled many of them to leave their treatment midway and disappear.
Every
year lakhs of rupees are spent to observe world AIDS day by the JKACS and
highlight their achievements but all their claims fall flat when it comes to
giving basic facilities to the patients, Officials sources allege adding that
JKACS has enough funds to spend on peripheral things but do not have funds to
setup a district level units so patient can get treatment at their doorsteps.
They
further said that the State has more than 4900 patients who are living with
deadly virus and are facing huge hardship to get treatment especially for those
who belong to far flung areas of Jammu province. Neither Government nor JKSACS
have taken required steps to provide treatment to patients at their door steps,
who are discouraged by the social stigma attached to the deadly disease.
"As
a result, more than 500 patients have left their treatment in midway reportedly
due to financial conditions, social stigma and lack of facilities", they
said and added that most HIV patients are in poor financial condition, owing to
which they at times do not have enough money to travel to Jammu for treatment
and medication.
A
patient from Kathua, wishing not to be named, informed that only 350 of the HIV
Patients had got free bus passes but reaming patients are waiting for the same
facility but due to lackadaisical approach of concerned authority some passes
were gathering dust in Regional Transport Office (RTO) for approval for last
some months.
When
Contacted, Project Director JKSACS Dr. Samir Mattoo admitted that there was
shortage of funds to run the project smoothly but JKSACS was providing all
facilities to the HIV patients.
On
being asked that patients of far flung areas are facing huge problems as they
have to visit Jammu to get treatment, he replied that units were setup in
Kathua, Udhampur, Leh and Jammu where the patients can get medicines.
Contesting
the claims of project Director, Sources claimed that there is no other
functional unit which forces patients of far off areas to leave treatment
midway.
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