State HIV/AIDS rules soon

SHILLONG: A senior member of the National AIDS Control Society (NACO) said on Friday the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, will soon be implemented but before that rules and guidelines need to be in place.
Speaking to a section of the media at a consultation on model state rules, Rajesh Kumar Rana, National Consultant (IEC and Mainstreaming), NACO, said, “The state government has to notify the rules. But overall the central government will notify to bring this act in force.”
He added rules and guidelines need to be in place before implementation of the act so that grievances can be addressed immediately after the act is enforced.
“We have drafted the rules and guidelines and we will be in a position to bring this act in force at the earliest,” he said.
Rana said when the act was notified, NACO had written to all the states to start working on drafting the rules.
“Meghalaya is the first in case of northeastern state. In approximately 6-7 states, consultation is over and draft rules have been submitted. We are expecting it to be done at the earliest,” he added.
Speaking about the act, he said, “This act provides teeth to all those people who have been discriminated and for availing facilities and services. The main thing we want is that those who are positive to come forward, take services and do not transmit to any other person.”
Further, he said that people who are discriminated will come forward and will avail provision of the act, “The stigma will definitely go down in such cases.”
Asked on the status of HIV in Meghalaya, Rana said the state has approximately 3000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) whereas in cases of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, the number of cases is more.
With regard to grievance redressal mechanism, Rana said, “We want the easiest mode to be taken by an individual; it should be the best convenient way for a person who has been discriminated.”
“The person who will discharge his duty as ombudsman need to thoroughly understand all the issues and be sensible to dispose of things at the earliest also,” he added.
Rana encouraged positive people should come forward to remove societal and self stigma. “We want people to come forward and know their status,” he said adding that the central government has started the provision of test and treat policy where anyone found positive will be on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) which will increase the lifespan of the individuals.