The Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) has charted out a Rs 63 crore action plan for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the state during the 2005-06 period, and the proposal is pending for approval from the National Aids Control Society (NACO).
TANSCAS would computerize and network the blood banks in the state, and five more blood banks would be networked during the period, with a funding of Rs 6.56 lakhs. So far, networking has been done in 11 out of the 86 licensed government blood banks and 26 government blood storage centres functioning in Tamil Nadu.
Further, TANSACS is also planning to open new Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) in 68 Taluk level hospital located in high prevalence areas. At present the state has 65 Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) centres and 45 Voluntary Confidential Counselling and Testing Centres (VCCTCs), which are being integrated to improve their functionality and cost effectiveness. Besides, eight community care centres would be started in the state, during the period, in addition to the 13 private institutional care centres, five community care centres and eight drop-in-centres, said sources.
The first phase of the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) programme was launched in Tamil Nadu in the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram (GHTM) since March, last year, and was extended to three more centres recently at the Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital, Madurai, Madras Medical College Hospital, Chennai and Government District Head Quarters Hospital, Namakkal. So far 2400 AIDS patients have been extended free ART, said sources.
Tamil Nadu, one of the pioneering states to introduce HIV/AIDS information in the regular school curriculum, would extend the school AIDS education programme to the corporation, municipal and private schools, this year. During the 2004-05 period, 8417 high schools, higher secondary schools and matriculation schools were brought under the School AIDS Education Programme, funded by the Central Government, UNICEF and the USAID assisted Aids Prevention and Control Project (APAC). At present 57 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinics are functioning in Tamil Nadu covering the entire state, and substantial funds would be given to provide drugs and to strengthen infrastructure at these clinics, informed sources.
About Rs 1.54 crore has been earmarked for sensitizing women on HIV/AIDS through the Self Help Groups (SHGs), and another Rs.80 lakhs would be spent for starting Red Ribbon Clubs in all the universities, arts and science colleges, engineering colleges and polytechnics in the state for awareness creation among the students. TANSACS is also planning to form Red Ribbon Clubs for out of school and college youth, in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendras functioning in the state. Training for 50,000 government and private doctors, nurses, technicians and village level health/nutrition care functionaries is part of the action plan for the 2005-06 period.
According to the HIV Sentinel Surveillance Survey conducted at 85 sentinel sites in the state in 2004 among STD Clinic attendees, Intravenous Drug Users (IVDUs), Female Commercial Sex workers, Men having Sex with Men (MSM) and ANC clinic attendees, the prevalence of HIV is on the decline in the state. The prevalence of HIV among the general population as reflected in the ANC clinic attendees came down to 0.65 per cent during 2004 as against the prevalence of 0.75 per cent during 2003. The HIV prevalence among the STD attendees also showed a decline from 9.20 per cent in 2003 to 8.40 per cent during 2004. The HIV prevalence among the female commercial sex workers is found to be declining from 8.80 per cent to 4.0 per cent. There is a decline among Intravenous Drug Users (IVDUs) to 39.92 per cent. The prevalence among Men having Sex with Men (MSMs) has gone up from 4.40 per cent to 6.80 per cent, said sources.