Study of integrated counselling and testing service in sivakasi public health centre

The December 2001 report of United Nations Commission on Macroeconomics and Health makes explicit connection between development (macroeconomics) and health. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic have emerged as a serious public health problem all over the world. While addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS among the economically productive and sexually active sections of population, specific emphasis needs to be given not only to high risk groups like commercial sex workers and injecting drug users, but also to general population like students, youth, migrant workers in urban and rural areas, women and children. Such target group needs to be given adequate care and proper counselling to bring them into mainstream population and present study is a moderate attempt towards this direction. The present study was undertaken in Sivakasi Government Public Hospital in Virudhunagar district with secondary data. The study is confined to Integrated Couselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) Services, covering a period from 2006 to March 2011. ICTC service centre has been functioning under the control of (Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society) TNSACS. Of total screening cases for HIV/AIDS of 21014 cases and infected with HIV/AIDS were 338 cases from 2006 to 2011. Prevention strategies must continue to be given primary focus through awareness campaigns and conuselling facilities with local languages, which leads to behavioral change. Specific partners or migrant workers need specially packaged awareness progammes on the risk and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.