New Delhi, July 25: �In order to cough up the amount required for undergoing HIV Viral Load Testing, 15 of us come together and contribute Rs 100 each every month, and the weakest among us who has been on ART drugs for a long time is given the preference for undergoing the test�, said one of the members of the Marup formed by 15 HIV positive widows.

�In order to cough up the amount required for undergoing HIV Viral Load Testing, 15 of us come together and contribute Rs 100 each every month, and the weakest among us who has been on ART drugs for a long time is given the preference for undergoing the test�, said one of the members of the Marup formed by 15 HIV positive widows.

ART drug is provided to HIV patients after CD4 Cell test and HIV Viral Load Testing is essential to find the extent of the HIV virus found in the body system and to find out whether the ART drug administered is being benefited or not.

HIV patients from Manipur have been sending their blood samples to company outside Manipur for conducting the HIV Viral Load Testing as there is no facilities for conducting the test in Manipur at present.

A patient has to spend around 2,450 for undergoing the test.

However, in case the patient is referred by a doctor then she or she has to spend only Rs 1,450. �Since the test is very essential and we don�t have the money, 15 of us have come together to form the Marup by contributing Rs 100 each every month.

Preference for undergoing the test is also given to the one who has been on ART drugs for a long time and the immune system is very weak�, said one of the Marup members.

It is said under the initiative of Jiban of Empowerment of Community for Health Education Multitudes Advancement (ECHEMA), Dr Diamond has been referring patients to outside company for the test.

In view of the difficulties being faced by the HIV positive patients in Manipur owning to absence of the facilities for conducting the HIV Viral Load testing, the Marup members have drawn the attention of the authorities concerned for taking up necessary remedial measures in this regard.

Comment