Hassan: The Prakriti Community Service Society President Varsha Hassan alleged that the HIV-infected communities were deprived of proper facilities from the Government.
Speaking at a press conference here, she said that Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) treatment is necessary to maintain the health of HIV positive patients. But there is a reluctance to seek this treatment due to financial constraints. Therefore, the Prakriti Samudaya Seva Samstha is providing as much treatment as possible to the infected patients with the help of donors, she added.
She added that the HIV community is not getting the required benefits from the Government.
Chandrasekhar of Jeevanashrama Network said, “It is difficult for the HIV Community to live in the public sector. The Government promises to provide residential accommodation and other amenities for the infected but has not been implemented so far. They are deprived of Government facilities. They are also reluctant to treat infected people in local Government hospitals. ARTs are not available in the right way. The level of dose in the treatment process of ART is higher and its balance requires nutrition. But the middle class is facing difficulties due to financial constraints and therefore unable to buy,” he said.
He appealed to the Government to pay more attention to ART treatment. “We have already requested for the issuance of Antyodaya cards and no steps are being taken in this regard,” he alleged.
“It is important to be aware of the infection as HIV is increasingly being transmitted from infected persons to others. Channarayapattana, Arasikere and Hassan are reporting the highest number of positive cases. In Hassan, 40 to 50 people are getting infected every month. It is sad that it is increasing, especially among the younger generation,” he rued.
