Anita Devi, 45, was admitted with intestinal problems in a government hospital in Patna on Sep 4. But tests soon revealed she was HIV positive. At that point, the doctor responsible for her care tore up the prescription and asked her to leave.
Similar was the story of a 40-year-old man in Andhra Pradesh who was also refused treatment by a private hospital in Warangal for being HIV positive.
Instead of being cases in exception, experts said, such incidents seem to have become the norm. It is to address the discrimination that the Indian government, along with NGO HIV/AIDS alliance, has launched a special project to provide a care and support structure for the 2.4 million PLHIV (people living with HIV/AIDS) in the country.
India has the third largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS after South Africa and Nigeria.
The project 'Vihaan' (meaning "the first light of dawn" in Sanskrit) seeks to ensure that PLHIV and high-risk groups like men who have sex with men, transgenders, female sex workers and injecting drug users are followed up on health parameters regularly.
"The overall goal of 'Vihaan' is to improve the survival and quality of life of PLHIV," James Robertson, Executive Director India, HIV/AIDS Alliance, told us. The project, which was launched in April, was formally rolled out in August.
Robertson said care and support had been recognized globally as a critical element for a comprehensive HIV/AIDS response.
