"The HIV patients should not feel isolated. They are also an important part of the society and should not feel humiliated about their disease. The AIDS patients should not introduce themselves to doctors as an HIV positive person. Because their individual status and personality is more important than their disease," said Chief Medical Officer Dr Shantimal Singhavi.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of HIV/AIDS physicians' training workshop organised by Allahabad Medical Association in coordination with Clinton Foundation Initiative and National AIDS Control Organisation, here on Sunday.
Dr Singhavi said deadly HIV was a social scourge. But still HIV positive people should be treated like any other patient. They also command a lot of respect from the society.
"The workshop will definitely help the physicians in proper management of HIV positive patients. There should also be discussions on spreading awareness about HIV in the society," he added.
Indian Medical Association state vice president Dr Ashok Agarwal said the private physicians have an important role to play in community in HIV prevention, early detection and education. "AIDS is a chronic manageable disease with the help of many anti-viral drugs. These drugs are available at BHU Varanasi, KG Medical University Lucknow and Medical College Meerut. Many Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTC) have also opened for HIV testing and counselling," he added.
District coordinator of the workshop Dr GS Sinha said those doctors were trained who were not managing HIV positive patients but need basic information on safety, testing and referral. "Various topics including HIV transmission and prevention, diagnosis, introduction to ARV treatment, post exposure prophylaxis and preventing mother to child transmission will be covered during the six-hour class room based workshop," he said.
{{/usCountry}}District coordinator of the workshop Dr GS Sinha said those doctors were trained who were not managing HIV positive patients but need basic information on safety, testing and referral. "Various topics including HIV transmission and prevention, diagnosis, introduction to ARV treatment, post exposure prophylaxis and preventing mother to child transmission will be covered during the six-hour class room based workshop," he said.
{{/usCountry}}AMA secretary Dr VK Gupta conducted the workshop. He also proposed a vote of thanks. The chief speakers were Dr Manoj Mathur and Dr Bharat Arora.