CD 4 machine that help in testing for HIV and immunity of patients before putting them on antiretroviral therapy at Anti Retroviral Therapy Centre (ARTC) Tuensang has been lying defunct for almost 4 months ever since the UPS broke down on March 26 last.
On enquiry, staff of ARTC revealed that the CD4 machine has been out of use and thereby making it unable to conduct follow-up with the patients.
The staff also informed that altogether five persons died recently owing to the faulty machine as people living with HIV were fully dependent on it.
The staff also said that ARTC Tuensang apprised project director NSACS about the faulty equipment and that no positive response has been received though an engineer had visited the hospital earlier.
With regard to the grievances faced by the people of remote areas especially those living with HIV, Integrated Development Society Tuensang and Grace Chapel Tuensang, deliberated has taken the matter seriously and urged upon the authority in charge for immediate restoration of the defunct CD4 machine at ARTC Tuensang.
While visiting ARTC Tuensang, IDS Tuensang, James and president Grace Chapel Tuensang, Sentila, along with media person found that there was no medical nurses for two and half years now.
The centre was functioning with only one counselor at ARTC centre which required more manpower for smooth functioning of the centre.
James said hundreds of patients especially from remote villages who come to avail treatment face untold hardship owing to non-functional of CD4 machine and appealed to the authority in charge to look into the matter at the earliest.
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