Incentives for Ukhrul HIV patients
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, October 21:
With more facilities extended to HIV positive individuals undergoing anti-retroviral treatment (ART) from interior areas of Ukhrul district, a new hope has dawned upon the HIV patients on ART of Ukhrul district known for its high prevalence rate.
According to an official source, HIV patients from beyond 50 kms of Ukhrul district headquarters who have been registered for ART at Ukhrul District Hospital will be provided their travel fare to and from the hospital.
The same benefit will also be extended to patients, registered in the district hospital in connection with ART, coming for medical check-up.
The reimbursement of travel fares coming for ART and medical check-up will be
provided to only those who come to Ukhrul district hospital.
The amount may be claimed from the hospital's ART in-charge Dr Chandramani.
The benefit entitled to registered HIV patients from beyond 50 kms of Ukhrul district headquarters will not be provided to those who do not turn up at the hospital, conveyed the source.
One functionary of Kaphung Reishang Long based at Samayangtang, Ukhrul which has been working in the field of HIV/AIDS, informed that the required amount for reimbursement of travel fares has already been deposited with Dr Chandramani.
Of the HIV positive persons in Ukhrul district, about 285 patients have been registered at the ART centre of Ukhrul district hospital.
Of these, more than 100 belong to interior areas beyond 50 kms from the district headquarters.
Many of these patients are unable to afford the travel expenditure to Ukhrul district headquarters.
As such, they stopped the ART course midway.
Considering the misfortune of the HIV patients, the initiative to reimburse travel fares is being taken up by the Kaphung Reishang Long to enable and encourage HIV patients receive ART treatment, said one of its functionaries.
He further appealed to all patients residing far away from Ukhrul town to take advantage of the new initiative so as to get themselves checked up regularly and receive proper medication.
For medication or nutritional details, HIV patients registered at Ukhrul district hospital may consult Dr Chandramani or the Kaphung Reishang Long.