Drive to check AIDS in East Godavari

Kakinada: A special drive has been taken up for conducting HIV tests in Agency areas through a mobile medical van in East Godavari district. The Rural India Self Development Trust (RISDT) has been running the medical van for conducting HIV tests in rural areas for past two years in the district.

The medical van will visit various areas depending on their geographical location, population density and propensity of the people to fall victims to HIV/AIDS. The migrant labourers have the highest risk of getting effected by the disease  due to their nature of work.

The staff of the van consists of a counselor, a lab technician and one or two personnel visit the identified locations to create awareness among people.

The counseling, HIV testing, treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and follow up or referral to people living with HIV/AIDS is being provided free of cost.

District incharge Medical and Health Officer Dr M. Pavan Kumar said, “As many as 93 cases were identified out of 9,714 in 2013-14 and 29 cases of out of 5,503 in 2014-15 by mobile tests.”

He said that the van would render it services where it is required. As many as more than 13,000 people who are working in many industrial units like sea ports, RIL, Punj Lloyd and other industries at Kakinada, fourth bridge construction place at Rajahmundry and construction sites and apartments.

The van will also concentrate on religious festivals in rural areas.

Now, an action plan has been prepared for running the van in Agency areas for conducting HIV tests on tribal people.

The Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) will operating the mobile medical van in Agency areas of the district for three months - September, October and November and will conduct tests on tribal people.

The van will render it services in Rajavomma-ngi mandal from Septe-mber 8 to 10, in Addateegala mandal on Sept-ember 16, at D. Mallav-aram in Gokavaram mandal on September 17, in Gangavaram mandal from September 18 to 27 and on September 29, the mobile van will visit M. Ravilanka at Devipatnam mandal.