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Serving in silence
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The Saadhan Clinic carries out HIV testing for a nominal fee and in a reassuring atmosphere.
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RIGHT NOW, there may be people out there who are living on their nerve ends, thinking they may be infected with HIV. They may not be taking this doubt to its logical conclusion, because of fear. Fear of exposure which, they know, will invite disapprobation. Or the fear of facing the moment of truth. "What if the test proves positive !" - so they keep putting off the evil day. Some may decide against going for a test, because they labour under the illusion that such a test would sink a hole in their purse.
Saadhan Clinic is for those who have such fears. At the clinic, HIV testing is done for a nominal fee, counselling is offered free, and the test results are kept under utmost secrecy.
The client who comes to the clinic will often be under great distress. More precisely, on tenterhooks. The 30-minute pre-test counselling is meant to take the edge off this distress.
"The client is given a consent form. Even at this moment, he can decide against going for the test and walk out of the clinic. We maintain total confidentiality. We take only the client's name, and not his address; he is then given a client code. We ease his troubled spirit with some handholding. However, we tell him that the test could be anything - negative or positive," says Alroy Leighton, counsellor, Saadhan Clinic. "The counsellor accompanies the client to the lab. When it is time to take the test, the client will be under excruciating psychological pain, as he would be bombarded with presentiments of a disaster. Then the lab technician takes over. He puts the client at ease with some words of reassurance."
"After the test, the lab technician accompanies the client to the counselling room.
He also leaves the report with the counsellor," says Saravanan, lab technician.
"There will then be a post-test counselling for 25-minutes. If the test proves positive, the counsellor does everything to make this unfortunate piece of news easier to accept. During this session, the client is given a referral, if he needs it, for free medicines and treatment," says Leighton. If tested positive, he is likely to abandon himself to hopelessness and self-pity. In such a state he would need a direction for the future. To this end, Saadhan Clinic ensures the client is in the hands of NGOs that are at the service of HIV-positive persons.
The two HIV screening tests - cappilus (HIV-I) and determined (HIV-II) - together cost Rs. 175. Saadhan Clinic charges a nominal Rs. 25.
Here is a brief history of Saadhan Clinic. Population Services International (PSI) is a United States-based organisation, which was floated in 1974, to work in the area of social marketing. PSI India has its genesis in 1988, with offices in 22 states. PSI India's major focus has been on social marketing of products such as condoms, safe water kits and oral rehydration salts (for the mal-nourished in rural areas).
HIV intervention is PSI India's another area of operation. Saadhan Clinic is an offshoot of PSI India. There are four Saadhan Clinics in Mumbai, one each in Mangalore, Vizagapattnam, Goa, Tuticorin and Chennai.
The Saadhan clinic in Chennai is located at 164, Linghi Chetty Street, Singapore Plaza, Parry's, ph: 55856746.
PRINCE FREDERICK
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