DIMAPUR, JULY 15 (MExN): Today the Akimbo Society organized a meeting to sort out the problems and challenges they came across during the intervening last 8 months. The agendas which were discussed were included lack of rehabilitation and care center in Nagaland, assistence to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) to undergo different tests required before starting ART, assist undergo vocational training or provide financial assistance to start employment among the PLHAs. The Chief Guest Nzimongo, Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, urged the PLHAs to step forward and earn a living as there are several avenues and Akimbo Society to guide them rather shadowing themselves. He encouraged them to behave like a normal person and requested specially the sex workers and Drug-users not to indulge in the habit, “as in the eye of God, it’s a sin.”
Phuba James, Project Director gave an introduction and highlighted the activities of the Society. The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of life people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members through home-based care services. During the period of November 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006, the organization has identified and build rapport with 226 PLHAs in and around Dimapur town. Under this program, the outreach workers help the PLHAs to avail the right services by referring them to other organizations or hospitals that can provide the needful services. At the same time, other organizations or hospitals also refer their clients to home-based care services programs for the same.
The organization has trained counselors who provides pre-test and post-test counseling to people interested to undergo HIV tests and to PLHAs who are unable to cope up with their day to day life. The Akimbo Society has been providing free medical treatments and medicines to all the identified PLHAs on a regular basis. Another achievement of the society on behalf of the PLHAs is the negotiation for the clause that 80% of private practitioner doctors in and around Dimapur town provide free medical check-up to all the PLHAs whoever approach them with a referral card issued in writing by the Akimbo Society.
Food items with nutritional values are also being distributed to the identified most needy PLHAs on a weekly basis.True to the sprit of the project, the staff of the Akimbo society makes regular visits of PLHAs. During home visits, the team help clients and family members by educating them on preventive measures to be taken by care givers, types of nutrition to be given, social responsibilities of the clients, and the importance of cleanliness to be healthy as well as counseling.
At times the staff help the clients in their manual labours. Akimbo Society under the program assist PLHAs to under go CD4 tests. As the facilities are not available in Dimapur the organization collects blood samples from clients and are taken to Kohima twice a week. The total number of clients who have taken their CD4 count test is 72, out of which 10 clients were required to go for ARV.
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