Dimapur, November 23 (MExN): The Network of Naga People Living with HIV/AIDS (NNP+) has urged the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) to immediately address the frequent breakdown of CD 4 machines.
Voicing support for the NNagaDAO and the affected community members in Dimapur in the matter of breakdown of CD4 machine, the NNP+ through a press release emphasized on the importance of CD4 cell count test for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) asserting that it is the most important laboratory indicator of immune function to provide quality treatment and the strongest predictor of HIV progression in the absence of viral load testing machine.
Pointing out that a system was already in place for ARV drugs stock management, the NNP+ expressed resentment over PLHIV having to frequently face drugs shortages which, it maintained, greatly affects the treatment process and the mental health of the PLHIV who are on ARV drugs.
While urging that the issue be immediately addressed, the NNP+ also called for better stock management to ensure regular chain supply of ARV drugs and move towards achievement of treatment target of 90:90:90 by 2020.
