GANGTOK, 22 August: A-daylong training on National AIDS Control Program-V was conducted by Sikkim State AIDS Control Society (SSACS) for the HODs, Doctors, Nurses and other health care providers of Central Referral Hospital (CRH),Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) under Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) on 21st August 2024.
Air Vice Marshal Dr. Dilip Chandra Agarwal, VSM, Vice Chancellor, SMU; Dr Karma Sonam Sherpa, Registrar, SMU; SMIMS, Dr.Sanjiba Dutta, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry andOfficiating Dean; Mr. Subhendu Prakash, Chief Operating Officer (COO), CRH; Dr. Samrat Singh Bhandari, Additional Medical Superintendent, CRH; HoDs, were present in the inaugural session.
A total of 150 plus health care providers from CRH, SMIMS attended the training program.
Ms.Meena Bhattrai, Assistant Director, Care Support & Treatment, SSACS delivered the welcome address.This was followed by a pre-test assessment.
Dr. Deki Wangmu Phempu, Project Director, SSACS presented an overview of NACP-V, the current HIV/AIDS situation in the region, importance of STI/RTI and Index Testing, challenges, and gaps in the existing ART services. She also enlightened the audience on the two month long Intensified IEC Campaign, urging all to be well informed on the basics of HIV/AIDS. She applauded the Dean and MS of CRH for good coordination to set the ART centre in CRH/SMIMS in the near future.
Air Vice Marshal Dr. Dilip Chandra Agarwal, VSM,Vice Chancellor, SMU shared his personal experiences on HIV from his long career as a reputed Joint Replacement Surgeon. Dr Agarwal said that there should be no complacency on the part of health care personnel when dealing with HIV positive patients or with blood and body fluids. He stressed on the need to ensure safety of health care personnel, and intensifying campaigns on creating awareness on HIV/AIDS. He also advised link of Aadhar card with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) patients for tracing Lost to Follow Up (LFU) patients. He appreciated the work done and the progress made by SSACS in the field of HIV/AIDS in Sikkim.
Dr. Dipanjan Bandyopadhyay, Professor and Head of the Medicine Department, North Bengal Medical College,Siliguri highlighted the importance of Antiretroviral Therapy(ART) in the life of PLHIV. He explained about switch and substitute of ART medicine, Initial Evaluation and preparing PLHIV for ART and Initiation of ART.
Dr. BN Sharma Nodal Officer, ART Centre &Sr. Consultant Medicine, STNM HospitalSochaygang presented on Significance of Opportunistic infection which is crucial for ART treatment.
Ms. Namrata Sharma, Assistant Director, Mainstreaming SSACS, briefed about HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017:
1. The Act is for safeguarding human fundamental and legal rights to PLHIV.
2. Act came into force from 10th Sep, 2018. And it is applicable to the entire nation.
3. No person shall discriminate against any HIV infected and affected person on any ground.
4. HIV test shall be conducted only after informed consent from the person.
5. Every person infected with HIV should be responsible enough not to transmit the virus to other person. They shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission.
6. Complaint Officer: To register grievances by HIV infected and affected person in their workplaces many govt. Dept, health care set ups, Pharma Companies have nominated Complaint Officers.
7.Ombudsman : Director, Health & Family Welfare Department, Goverment of Sikkim has been designated as an Ombudsman for grievance redressal of People Living with HIV/AIDS at the state level.
Mr. Passang Tamang,Deputy Director, (Basic Service Division) SSACS informed about the services offered by SSACS.
Dr. Deepanjan Bandhopadhyay conducted a technical session with Q&A round with active participation by all attendees followed by post-test. Certificates were distributed to all the participants.
The program ended with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Mehyendo TamangA.D (ICTC) SSACS.