HIV positive community of Dimapur had voiced out their resentment against constant breakdown of CD4 machine at the centre by holding a protest outside ART centre, Dimapur Hospital on November 20.
A press release by HIV positive community of Dimapur, stated that during the first week of November, NSACS were made aware of the problem with machine but even after a lapse of more than two weeks, the machine has remained dysfunctional.
It stated that more than 3000 people on ARVs had to discontinue ARV treatment. The machine is used as a baseline pre ARV treatment and post ARV initiation as an indicator to determine the treatment response rate after every six months.
During the protest, the group held protest posters and placards which read “we demand new machine”, “treat us as human, we are not less than you”, “ART medicines must be available anytime”.
Dimapur ARTC is an ART plus centre with more than 9000 registered PLHIV.
Meanwhile, the ARK Foundation president, Ketho Angami has cited utter negligence of NSACS in failing to address this issue.
Expressing the concerns faced by the PLHIV community on ART, he stated that earlier happenings of ARV stock outs and no CD 4 test presently would only result in treatment failure due to compelled adherence disruption and proper monitoring test.
The press release stated “it is necessary to seek for your right to health with an equal perspective on your fundamental rights.
This has to be made with informed consent, treatment and adherence, and follow up counselling are all necessary while also getting the right kind medicines and test and diagnosis at the right time and intervals”.