Missing the Target #5: Improving AIDS Drug Access ... - CD8 T cells

INDIA2. Provide pediatric formulations for ARTFollow-up:Based on NACO’s revised estimates, about 70,000 children are living withHIV in India, and pediatric ARVs are available in all the currently functional(a total of 127) government ART centers. National pediatric ART and dosingguidelines are being followed at these centers. The current goal is provideART to 40,000 children by 2012.The national pediatric ART program is supported by the Clinton Foundation.In an e-mail communication to this report’s authors, the Foundation said thatit did not have any plans for supporting second-line regimens for childrenliving with HIV in India.Additional challenges for the pediatric program include whether and how todisclose the HIV status of children; explaining to the children why they needto take their medications (ART) on a regular basis; and a lack of trainedcounselors to provide counseling on treatment adherence in children.3. Develop a policy to ensure equity in ART access to members of vulnerablegroupsFollow-up:No information is yet available on how many MSM, IDUs, and sex workers—all members of vulnerable groups—are receiving ART through the nationalprogram. However, the numbers are likely to be very low because of actualor perceived discrimination. In an October 2007 e-mail communication,NACO’s national ART program officer mentioned that specific informationregarding vulnerable groups’ ART access might be available at individualcenters, but that the centers did not report such data to NACO.Currently there is no national action plan for equity in ART access that isdesigned to ensure that marginalized populations living with HIV are notexcluded from the national ART program.4. Establish enough ART centers across the country to help facilitate universalaccessFollow-up:NACO’s target is to have at least 188 public sector ART centers by December2007, up significantly from the total of 127 at the end of August 2007. Inan e-mail communication to the Indian Network for People Living with HIV(INP+), a NACO official mentioned that 16 additional ART centers will havebecome functional by the end of October and 31 more ART centers are soonto be established.35