Mobile testing facility for HIV
The BMC’s HIV testing facility will target slums, create AIDS awareness through slide shows ……..SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
The BMC and its Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) will offer HIV testing facility in medically equipped vans which will move in slum areas. Through the ‘mobile’ testing facility, the civic body will also create awareness among the residents with a slide show and film on AIDS. The first three vans will be launched on October 3.
According to a senior civic officer, HIV cases are on the rise in the city and most people who contract the disease may succumb to it, leaving their family destitute. “These vehicles will visit slum areas collecting blood samples. We will prepare their health report. Our focus will be to check the HIV affected among residents. Our targets are slum areas where there is overcrowding and living conditions are unhygienic. We are in the process of creating the programme, so dates of the vans’ visits will be disclosed later,” said the officer. The cost of each vehicle is approximately Rs 7 lakh.” Dr S S Kudalkar, director of MDACS said that they will tie up with city-based NGOs to carry out the AIDS awareness programme. “During evenings, we will have an awareness programme about AIDS, where we will distribute pamphlets and show films. If HIV affected people need any counselling, it will be done in a confidential manner.” He added, “Most people affected by HIV are not aware about it. Due to this ignorance, entire families may succumb to the disease for no fault of theirs.” Mumbai has more than 5,00,000 HIV positive people. “The programme’s objective is to make people conscious about sexual diseases – primarily AIDS. We will also call taxi drivers to attend the programme. If required, the BMC will purchase more such vehicles,” Kudalkar added.