On AIDS day K'pong call to go for HIV tests

SNS, Kalimpong, 1 December 2017: As Kalimpong town joined the world in marking World AIDS Day today, experts and doctors here called upon people to visit government hospitals for free HIV tests.They also said that the level awareness when it comes to the deadly disease is still at the 'grassroots.'

Doctors at the Kalimpong District Hospital, however, said they cannot say if the HIV prevalence rate has gone down because " tests are often done only during pregnancy and other grave illnesses."They further appealed to the people (those living with HTV and others) not to feel shy about the disease.

"Everyone is well aware of their own habits, and whenever in doubt, please come for tests which we have here for free. We will also make sure that we will keep your test and test reports confidential;' Dr P Biswas, a senior doctor at the District Hospital here said.

It is learnt that the hospital had counselling facility for HIV-AIDS during the year 2000, while the HIV tests started in 2009. The hospital has done 25,251 tests till November this year, while 210 of them tested HIV positive.

"A total of 190 infected persons (106 male and 84 female) are getting treatment for the disease at the Kalimpong District Hospital," doctors said.

"Unfortunately, out of the 190, there are 13 children who are below 12 years of age and who were infected with HIV/AIDS from their parents," Dr Biswas said.

A senior nurse at the hospital, in meanwhile, said people should now stop thinking about how AIDS is transmitted and focus more on treating the infected ones with more respect and compassion.

"We now need more awareness on how to treat someone with AIDS, and we should stop discriminating them. Society should be able to accept them," she said.