hiv

There are an estimated 2.5m HIV/AIDS sufferers in India. The government has commited to providing first line Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) drugs but the education and supervision needed are often missing at the point of delivery and this can render treatment ineffective.

Calcutta Rescue has been working with HIV/AIDS since 2004, operating a designated HIV Clinic under the close personal supervision of CR’s founder, Dr Jack Preger. CR works with the School of Tropical Medicine (STM) in Kolkata, the pioneer Institute in the State in the management of HIV/AIDS patients and the Medical College Hospital of the Government of West Bengal. Via these two bodies and other service providers, patients are referred for investigation and treatment. STM does provide some first and second line ART drugs to HIV/AIDS patients, as well as counselling, but is unable to treat all of them.

Patients come not just from Kolkata but from all over West Bengal and neighbouring states, many travelling great distances to receive treatment. We supply second line ART drugs, as well as first line ART drugs that are not available to certain patients via Government hospitals. At present, we are catering to the needs of some 70 HIV patients.

The HIV Clinic, primarily a treatment clinic, provides the following services :

  • Hepatitis B vaccination for all HIV patients who are Hepatitis B negative.
  • HIV patients with histoplasmosis, diabetes, cardiac and liver disease also receive hospital prescribed drugs along with ART drugs.
  • All investigations, such as sputum culture and drug sensitivity for tuberculosis (TB), DNA antibody tests, cath-angiogram, etc., are arranged and funded.
  • Food, non-medical services and transport allowances are distributed to patients according to their income, medical condition and nutritional needs. Where appropriate, financial assistance to buy supplementary food is provided.
  • A contribution to the cost of school books, tuition and travel is made for dependent children in need.
  • An HIV/AIDS health education programme.