SIKKIM AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY EMPLOYEES JOIN NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE

AIDS awareness and support services suspended
GANGTOK, 05 Feb: The Sikkim AIDS Control Employees Association [SACEA] is now on an indefinite strike, starting 04 February in support of the ongoing all India strike called by the All India AIDS Control Employees Association [AIACEA] demanding the fulfillment of its six-point charter of demands. Earlier, the association had been on a pen-down strike from 30 January till 03 February.
During the indefinite strike, except supply of ARV Drugs, all other facilities of Sikkim State AIDS Control Society like ICTC centres, DAPCU, STI, OST, Mobile ICTC, Blood Safety, including SSACS Head Office will remain closed until the demands are fulfilled or further notification from AIACEA.
Standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to maximally suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease. Huge reductions have been seen in rates of death and suffering when use is made of a potent ARV regimen, particularly in early stages of the disease. Furthermore, expanded access to ART can also reduce the HIV transmission at population level, impact orphanhood and preserve families.
SACEA members today informed that even the ARV drugs supply facility will remain open only till 09 February. It is added that most of the states have already stopped ARV drugs supply facility joining the nation-wide strike.
It is informed that there are 96 HIV+ve persons taking ARV drugs at present and they are given a month´s supply at the beginning of each month. The patients administer the drugs themselves. It is learnt that some of them have already taken their supply of ARV medication for the month.
“90% of the local patients [HIV+ve people] are on ARV drug treatment. Since it is important for the patients to take it every day we do not want to stop the supply so the authorities should fulfill our demands at the earliest”, the striking association members said.
SACEA members also urged the state government to take the issue to the concerned authorities at the centre.
The demands include regularisation of all employees working under Department of AIDS Control (National AIDS Control Organisation, State AIDS Control Societies and its peripheral units); till the regularization, salary should be given at par and with all benefits as per central government employees (PF/DA/Maternity leave/Paternity leave/Medical benefits/risk allowances etc); revised salary should be implemented w.e.f. April 2012 because National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)-III phase actually completed in April 2012; all employees should be continued/merged in next phase without removal of any post; representation from association in policy making in DAC (2 members from All India AIDS Control Employees Association) and; immediate withdrawal of new salary order sent by DAC in January 2014.