ART CENTRE
Anti Retroviral Therapy Centre (ART Centre) is functioning in General Hospital, Ernakulam under Kerala State AIDS Control Society since December 2009. Dr Anu.C.Kochukunju, Consultant, General Medicine is the Nodal Officer and Dr Parvathi.A., is the Medical Officerof ART Centre.. 9 staff are working at ART Centre includes 1 Medical Officer, 1 Staff Nurse, 2 Counsellors, 2 Data Managers, 1 Pharmacist, 1 Lab Technician, 1 Care Co-ordinator.
We have 2272 patients with HIV/AIDS registered in our centre. We provide ,
o Anti Retroviral Treatment free of cost to the patients.
o All investigations related to their medical problem are free of cost.
o Treatment for their Co-morbid conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, Cardio Vascular Disease, Hepatitis and Opportunistic Infections like TB, Pneumonia, fungal infection, Cancers are also provided free of cost.
o CD4 testing and viral Load testing is being conducted regularly to the PLHIVs.
o We are also conducting regular Pap smear test for the PLHIVs.
o We are conducting awareness class on HIV/AIDS to Palliative care trainees, at schools and Colleges.
We have been selected as the best performing ART Centre in the State for 2016, 2017 & 2021. Received appreciation from National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
Outreach Activities
o Apart from regular treatment we have been able to provide HPV Vaccination free of cost to young female patients to prevent Cancer Cervix with the fund raised through sponsorship.
o The People Living with HIV are more prone to develop various cancers during their life span. Increasing number of Cancer Cervix cases are being reported in the HIV patients.
o Ours is the first ART Centre in the country who has provided HPV Vaccination to the patients free of cost
o We have given Hepatitis B Vaccination to 500 patients which will help them to prevent from Hepatitis B infection & Liver diseases. With the help of IMA we have distributed Menstrual Cup to female patients registered in our centre.
