Adhar gives hope to HIV patients

AMRAVATI: Life is not easy for HIV patients. It is even difficult for those who have been disconnected from the society and do not know about welfare schemes, treatment and related information. But now, they do not have to worry about their problems and queries. Adhar, an NGO here, has decided to provide a helping hand to HIV patients in search of help.
Adhar has decided to support HIV positive patients who struggle everyday for tackling even small problems due to fear of people and sometimes due to ignorance. Advocacy group run by Adhar would help HIV patients in creating awareness among them.
Talking to TOI, Vidya Tayde, founder of Adhar, said that HIV patients face many problems. From financial problem to fear of social stigma and ignorance about various welfare projects meant for them and treatments, these people are found struggling. Hence, to redress their problems, Alliance, an NGO, has formed advocacy groups to help HIV patients for improving their life at every stage. Alliance has started this project in Amravati, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Thane and Kolhapur. In Amravati, Alliance has selected Adhar for implementation of this programme, said Tayde. This project will prove to be a boon for HIV positive people. Adhar, under its PACT (promoting access care and treatment project), has already started advocacy. But under this project, the advocacy work will gain momentum and more and more people can be given information which is important for them. Tayde said that the project started from November 1. Presently, analysis and work planning is done as the staff required for the purpose is insufficient, she said.
When asked what are the major issues which HIV positive patients have to deal with, Tayde said HIV positive patients face problem during surgery. It is observed that many doctors dodge surgery when the HIV patients are in need, she said. Many patients at the taluka place need to come to Amravati for CD4 which is not convenient for them and burdens their pockets, she said.