TNSACS study makes India confident to trounce AIDS menace
This is surely groundbreaking. As per a recent nutrition study, Tamil Nadu Family Care Continuum, conducted under the aegis of Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TNSACS), a number of children who had been having anti-retroviral pills for HIV/AIDS were found to gain weight and also health in conjunction with higher nutrition levels. Furthermore, as per the study, the majority of these students got even to school with better attendance
In accordance with Vijaya Kumar, Project Director of TNSACS, the study was conducted for four years and Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society provided the children nutrition supplements, which they took as porridge, with water or milk. As indicated by Kumar, the first and foremost objective was to preclude children from being orphaned, diminish HIV-related mortality and morbidity among parents and children, and improve the quality of life of infected individuals and families. TNSACS had to conclude that the children had gained weight and had lesser frequency of infection. What is more, while adults earned more money, children were back in school, recording good attendance.
Well, another credit goes to Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society. Its overwhelming success has impressed the State Government to a large extent. Being impressed considerably State Health Minister M R K Panneerselvam has already stated that his department, in company with that of social welfare, would root on the government to introduce policies that would make nutrition supplements available at all anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres free of cost. It is to be noted that the State Government has decided to keep complaint boxes at all ART centres to receive feedback. The State Government, as has been found, will also augment the number of ART centres and testing facilities.
Last of all, the program was initiated by TANSACS in September 2005 with support from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). Technical assistance was provided by a Chennai-based NGO, Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India (SAATHII) whereas monitoring and evaluation was carried out by the Duke University, USA.
