World Aids Day: Ambala Jail provides treatment to HIV+ve inmates

AMBALA: 18 HIV+ve inmates in Ambala Central Jail are getting proper treatment, said jail superintendent Lakhbir Singh on Saturday.


While talking to TOI, Lakhbir said, "As per the protocol we conduct regular medical tests of all the inmates. At presently, we have 18 HIV +ve cases in our jail and they are receiving proper treatment and diet as per the rules. Also, we do not disclose to other inmates about them, but the patients themselves often voluntarily share their problem with other inmates to build a better understanding during the stay in jail premises. They are always treated well inside the jail and we do not have any complaints from the HIV patients of any harassment or problem while staying here."

"Earlier the patients from our jail were being treated at Chandigarh, but now with the establishment of FI-ART (Facilitation Integrated Antiretroviral Therapy) Center in Ambala, they will receive the treatment here only," said the jail superintendent.

Nodal Officer for Ambala FI-ART Center Dr Hitesh said, “Most of the positive cases of HIV in Central Jail are the drug abusers who used the affected needles to inject drugs into their bodies, and some of them are due to sexual intercourse. There are two doctors, including myself and consultant Dr Vimal Anand at Ambala FI-ART centre. At present, in Ambala we have 413 registered cases of HIV+ve, out of which 189 are males, 1 is transgender, and 223 females. The actual figure may get double as some of the patients are undergoing treatment from PGI Chandigarh or other hospitals and we are working to identify those cases.”

“As per the guidelines of 2003, earlier the cluster of differentiation (CD4) count was conducted to start the HIV treatment and only those patients were given treatment whose CD4 count was below 200. But now as per the new guidelines of 2018, all the patients, no matter the CD4 count are given treatment," said Dr Hitesh.

100 per cent success in treating Mother-Child Transmission cases

"As per our records, so far, we have received 16 cases of pregnant mothers who are HIV+ve, and with the prompt identification of the virus and its treatment, we have been successful in failing the transmission of virus from mothers to their children, and all the 16 children have taken birth without any HIV symptoms. There are five more such cases in our notice and we are confident that they will also give birth to the children without the HIV," said Dr Hitesh.