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NACP-III
adopts a comprehensive strategy to strengthen
care, support and treatment for PLHA, provide
psycho-social support to infected and affected
individuals, especially to marginalized women
and children affected by the epidemic, and
ensure accessible, affordable and sustainable
treatment services. Expanding care, support and
treatment (CST) and linking them with prevention
will not only help reduce AIDS related mortality
but also positively impact by reducing poverty,
stigma and discrimination. The strategy will
include identification of institutions,
strengthening referral linkages for CD4 testing,
capacity building of ART centres and procurement
of ARV drugs. Quality of ART delivery will be
enhanced by providing training to all categories
of health service providers, linkages to
community care centres, adherence to monitoring
systems, set ting up of an External Quality
Assessment of Laboratory Services (EQAS) and a
mechanism for certification and accreditation of
services in both the public and private sectors.
The major focus will be on ensuring a very high
degree of adherence to ART (>95%) so that
patients can continue on these services for a
longer time. A smart health card will also be
provided to all patients on ART and all ART
centres will be linked in a web based system.
Under NACP III will:
-
strengthen PLHA and other networks of
vulnerable populations;
-
enhance linkages to service centres and risk
reduction strategies;
-
develop standard HIV and opportunistic
infection management guidelines including
-
improved referral to the Revised National
Tuberculosis Control Program for TB treatment;
-
establish community care centres which will
provide outreach, referral, counseling and
treatment, and patient management services;
and
-
undertake advocacy, social mobilization and
BCC to integrate HIV positive persons into the
society while reducing stigma and
discrimination.
CARE AND SUPPORT
Improving the quality of life, social
integration and dignity of people living with
HIV is an ongoing effort. Care and support
services through partnership with not for profit
organisations will be enhanced during the NACP
III period. Expanding access to care in an
enabling environment will increase the demand
for services and motivate those living with HIV
to adopt and sustain safe behavior. Social
suppor t, counseling, treatment and patient
management including referrals will be provided
through community care centres. These centres
will act as a bridge between PLHA households and
ART centres, focusing on management of
opportunistic infections as well as adherence
counseling for ART.
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) suppresses viral
replication, slows or halts disease progression,
prolongs longevity and greatly improves the
quality of life of HIV positive people. ART is
given to people at a certain stage of infection.
It is provided free of cost through select
government hospitals and not for profit
charitable hospitals. |
