Several NGOs and service providers working in the field of HIV and AIDS in Manipur unanimously reiterating their demand for addressing Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARV drugs) stock-out issue immediately. They warned to launched various form of agitation if the state government fails to meet their demand which they have been urging from first week of May this year.
Addressing the media at the office of MNP+ on Tuesday, general secretary of Imphal East Network of Positive People Kangabam Anandi said that the state has been reeling with shortage of ARV drugs since last week of April. Various NGOs and CBOs have been demanding the authorities concerned to take up necessary arrangements for continuous supply of the drugs in the state and even organised a sit-in-protest in this regard. However, the concerned authorities failed to solve the issue permanently except for some temporary measures, she said.
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She informed that the number of ART patients in the state is 14,000 and due to shortage of ARV drugs, which are considered as life-saving drugs for PLHIV, Manipur State AIDS Control Society is managing the situation with the available drugs. This has forced changing the regime of ART of many patients without any scientific reason or proof, she stated. The kind of stock gap arrangement which the concerned authorities have been doing has left many ART patients in despair and tension about the consequences it may bring in future, Kangabam Anandi said.
While stating that the present duration of ARV drug shortage is the longest ever since the ART treatment programme began in 2004, she said the shortage does happen at times but it never lasted for long. This time, it is almost three months and the state government is still neglecting the issue which is very unfortunate, she lamented.
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ART treatment programme was rolled out in the state with an objective to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030. Will the state be able to achieve the target if it continues to face ARV drug shortage for such a long duration, she questioned while stating that the elimination of HIV/AIDS requires maintaining strict adherence to ART treatment.
