'Nature of HIV epidemic greatest challenge'

Imphal, January 28 : The ever-changing dimensions and dynamics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is posing the greatest challenge in halting and reversing the epidemic, according to Dr Pramodkumar, Project Director (Technical) of Manipur State Aids Control Society (MACS).

Dr Pramodkumar was speaking at the inaugural function of a four-day orientation training programme of medical officers and counselors of the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) programme on the issue of Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Therapy (CPT) held here at the conference hall of JN Hospital at Porompat.

Altogether 44 medical officers and 44 counsellors under PPTCT will be participating in the orientation programme being organized by the Regional Pediatric ART Centre of JN Hospital in collaboration with UNICEF and MACS.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest of the function Dr Pramodkumar highlighted that though the HIV epidemic is around 29 years in the global scenario and around 20 years in the Manipur scenario, the nature of the disease as well as the epidemic remains very complicated as every four or five years the dimensions and dynamics of the epidemic keep changing.

"What started out as an epidemic among the high risk population soon crossed over to the general population, later inducing a feminization of the epidemic.

Now it has reached out to children," he said.

"In Manipur there are around 2000 children living with HIV according to latest data, but even among these, we still are to know how many have died and how many are suffering," he added, while pointing out that dealing with children living with HIV/AIDS is a very complicated issue.

"There are various stages when the child is growing up when the inadequacy of information and counseling is felt.

Therefore, the focus is on how to counsel them keeping in mind not only their health but also the social and emotional aspects," he stated.

Dr Pramodkumar further urged the need to carry on all preventive, care, support and treatment work on a war footing so that the goal of halting and reversing the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2012 is met with.

In his keynote address, UNICEF consultant Arun Meitram pointed out that one-third of children born to mothers living with HIV/AIDS fail to live until their first birthday, and 50 per cent of such children die before their second birthday.

However, as there are no test facilities for HIV available in the state for children in the 0-18 months age category, Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Therapy (CPT) comes as a boon as it helps to control opportunistic infection and thus lengthen the life span of the children.

Dr Khamba who is the Deputy Director of the PPTCT programme at MACS, informed that the death of nearly 30 per cent of children in the 0-18 months age category and born to mothers living with HIV/AIDS can be prevented to a great extent if there are facilities in the state for testing children in the above-mentioned category.

"Details are being worked out for installing such facilities by February, but until then we have to rely on test samples being sent to Kolkata and this is a time-consuming and expensive process," he said.

Head of Pediatrics Department of JN Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) Dr Chourajit, Additional Medical Superintendent of JNIMS Dr Samson and media personality Yumnam Rupachandra who is the chief editor of local news cable network ISTV were also present on the occasion.