Unsafe medical injections and HIV transmission in India-The Lancet,March 2007

Comments on: Reflection and Reaction: Unsafe medical injections and HIV transmission in India. The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Vol. 7, Number 3, March 2007, Pages 178-179Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/7132The role of Quack's in HIV transmissionDr.Rakesh Bharti, March 01 2007 March 01 2007Ever since 2002 to May 2005,431 patients were enrolled at my center for HIV management. The retrospective analysis of their data regarding routes of transmission reiterates the findings of this article.In our series the route of transmission mainly was sex (CSW or husband in adults)59.6% cases;blodd and IVDU,10.2% each and unknown in 11.4% besides vertical in children.It is this unknown route where the victims were unaware about the fact of their acquisition of virus which is worrisome.The needle of suspicion in all these cases was pointing towards the main health care providers of rural areas i.e quacks/unqualified medical practioners using same needle/syringes for many patients.Out of nine patients getting virus thru their occupation-three are such practioners themselves unfortunately.Irony is that despite their own HIV positivity,after acieveing good health by the grace of HAART,they still are practing the old way.Post script- i am only one of the dermatologist and STD,and HIV consultant of the area covering 3 Million population and my records are no where in governament files ,as no one has ever asked about the data. Dr.Rakesh Bharti, Consultanat, BDC Research Center,27-D,Sant Avenue,The Mall,Amritsar,Punjab,,India.__._,_.___