Lack Of Space Adds To Miseries Of HIV Sufferers At Rajindra Hospital

The big claims by the state administration of offering superior facilities and infrastructure to HIV positive sufferers have proved hollow. The Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centre at Government Rajindra Hospital has been facing a shortage of space.

ART centre senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Amar Singh Azad says, “The centre has been demanding allocation of space from the hospital administration for the past two years. At present, the centre can accommodate only 10-15 patients whereas the number of patients coming to the centre daily is around 150. The shortage of space has added to the woes of patients.”

The centre set up in the year 2008 has approximately 5,000 HIV positive sufferers recorded with it.

Dr Azad stated that HIV positive sufferers coming to the centre are carriers of numerous contagions and with a feeble immune system they turned easy prey to a variety of illnesses.

Because of lack of sufficient space, the danger of getting illnesses among patients is too much higher. There is also the risk of the staff getting infected from patients.

“The patients comprise widow women and orphans who have been desolated by their family members with no place to go to. In addition to other fears, they also have to cope with the shortage of space at the centre,” says Dr Azad.

He added that of the patients registered with the centre, 16 per cent are needed to visit the centre on a monthly basis and 30 per cent after six month period.

A source stated that the data manager at the centre had got infected with tuberculosis from the sufferers three years back.

The SMO said that there is no arrangement for cross-ventilation in the region hence disease spreads without doubt and is moved on.

Manoj Kumar, a sufferer from the city of Samana, said, “I have been visiting the centre for the last 4 years, and the trouble of space has been constant. For hours continuously we have to stand in a line. For a solo visit to the centre I have to quit my one day’s wages and leave my kids alone at home. With so many fears on mind, standing for hours in a line adds to my miseries.”

Gurtej, a sufferer from Sunam, said, “The centre has no place where patients can come and sit. There is no arrangement for drinking water.”

Medical superintendent Dr Sharda added, “The management is in search of additional space to assign for the centre. Within a 15 days time, space will be apportioned. I comprehend the problems the patients have been experiencing.”