ARV at Bir Hospital soon

[RAAZ]

KATHMANDU, May 7 - While controversy rages over transfer of one of the doctors who had been providing Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment at Martyr Shukraraj Tropical Communicable Disease Hospital, the government has decided to start providing ARV treatment at Bir Hospital, where the doctor in question has been transferred.
"We will start ARV treatment at Bir Hospital within a week," said Arjun Bahadur Singh, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. Till date, only the tropical hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital have been providing the treatment.

HIV positive people and 18 organizations working with HIV positive people have been alleging that the death rate of HIV positive people has increased alarmingly after the transfer of Dr Sushil Shakya whom they consider one of the best and sensitive doctors in treating HIV positive people.

But the ministry transferred him to Bir Hospital some three weeks ago. Dr Shakya was also transferred to Bir Hospital some four months back. But tremendous pressure from the HIV positive community had forced the ministry to revoke the decision then. Along with his transfer then, three of his nurses were also transferred. They were, however, not sent back.

This time too, three nurses trained by Dr Shakya in dealing with HIV cases have been transferred to Nepalgunj.

HIV positive people have been protesting in front of the hospital and National Center for AIDS and STD Control for the past 23 days putting forth at least nine demands, including the demand for trained human resources in the tropical hospital and formation of HIV care units in all regional hospitals.

According to Rajeev Kafle, chairperson of Nava Kiran Plus, one person is dying daily in the hospital due to carelessness in treatment.

"I myself have witnessed nurses not giving oxygen masks even when patients are in dire need. Patients were also given double doses of ARV and other medicines though our volunteers cautioned health workers," said Kafle.

"Even if a person has CD-4 cell count of 20, recovery is possible after getting ARV. We have several such cases in our treatment center. I too am a living example, having led a healthy life for the past 10 years."

ARV is generally given after the CD-4 count drops to 250.

He said health workers use harsh words, leading to disappointment and consequent decline in health status of HIV-positive people seeking treatment. Similarly, the hospital ward is so dirty and infectious that it contributes to

worsening the health of patients.

However, ministry spokesperson Singh denied any carelessness in treatment. He said expertise is not essential for treating HIV positive people. "Any health worker can take

care of them," he said. When asked about the controversy over Shakya's transfer, Singh said, "May be the ministry saw his better utility in the hospital where he has been transferred."

Nepal Environmental Lawyers Association is all set to file a case against the hospital for its alleged carelessness in treatment and discrimination against HIV positive people, according to lawyer Ek Raj Pokharel. Meanwhile, in a statement, Conscious Media Forum and Asian Peoples Alliance for Combating HIV and AIDS expressed concern over the alarming death rate and also expressed solidarity with the protest of HIV positive and affected people.