Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 3: For the first time in the state, the district administration here has brought into force a scheme of bus passes for HIV-affected people. These passes are valid in city, service, and express buses.

Although the state government had earlier asked all the district administrations to bring this scheme into force, no other districts have responded positively so far, it is gathered. Through the scheme, the government plans to help HIV-positive people from poor and middle classes, those ostracized by families, people facing economic crisis etc, to get treated by travelling to medical centres.

In Udupi district, Jeevan Sangharsh and Deepajyoti Positive People Network had approached the regional transport office with requests to implement this scheme. On the recommendation of the regional transport officer, passes to HIV-affected persons are being distributed through Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners Association.

Senior medical officer in the district Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) centre, Dr B M Hegde, said that 3,014 HIV-affected people living in the district have registered their names at the centre. Out of 1,499 persons who are being treated at present, 106 are pregnant, and 217 are children. ART treatment is offered to people whose CD4 cell count is less than 350. CD4 cell counts are determined through tests conducted once in six months.

President of Karnataka Bus Owners Union, Rajavarma Ballal, said that HIV affected people can approach RTO with application along with medical certificates. If the RTO recommends, such people can travel to the ART centres from their homes once a month for treatment free of cost, he added.