18 link ART centres planned

BANGALORE: To ensure better and easy access to Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) centres for people living with human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) plans to open  18 more link ART centres across the state.As of now there are 125 link ART centres across the state. With the proposed 18 link ART centres, the total number of these centres will be increased to 143. The centres are expected to provide the much needed solace to people living with HIV in villages and taluks. The centres are expected to function at Aminagad, Galagali, Lokapura in Bagalkot district, Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur,  Afzalpur, Sedam in Gulbarga, Arasikere, Channarayapatna in Hassan, Savanur, Shiggaon, Hirekkerur in Haveri and Karatagi in Koppal.To facilitate students and government or private employees to utilise the ART centres, the KSAPS has decided to keep the ART centres open on Sunday. “We have already implemented it in Karwar on a pilot basis. Many government employees and school children with HIV are being benefited from this centre. We will extend this facility at other ART centres shortly,” said Salma K Fahim, Project Director, KSAPS.Door to door campaignThe HIV prevalence is more in Bagalkot, Belgaum and Bijapur compared to other districts in the state. Many reasons are being attributed for the high rate of HIV prevalence in these three                               districts.To control the HIV and create more awareness among the people, the KSAPS is all set to launch Mane Mane Maahiti (Door to door campaign) in Bagalkot, Bijapur and Belgaum districts. “Unprotected and home-based sex work is the main cause for the high prevalence of HIV in Bagalkot district. There are some women who continue sex work without their family’s knowledge. They do not want to identify themselves as sex workers. It will be difficult for counsellors or link workers to reach such women,” said an official of KSAPS on condition of anonymity.The KSAPS is set to spend `30 lakh to implement this programme in these three districts. “Bagalkot, Bijapur and Belgaum are known as three-B belt where we have to focus, to prevent HIV and AIDS. Our volunteers will visit every house to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and provide information on the facilities available for the treatment of people living with HIV,” said Salma K Fahim, Project Director, KSAPS.