In a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Centre, information on HIV and Aids will now be a phone call away. National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) launched a nationwide helpline — 1097 — on December 1, observed as World Aids Day.
The helpline will cater to curious callers, those worried after indulging in casual sexual intercourse or unprotected sex, and those who are already infected and anxious to seek help or treatment in a nearby integrated counselling and training centre (ICTC) or anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre.
NACO had run a helpline in four states on integrated voice recording basis earlier. "People could call the helpline and a recorded message would play, answering frequently asked questions about HIV/Aids," said a senior NACO official.
That helpline has now been revised to provide human interaction, with counsellors attending to callers.
Most people who are infected do not know their HIV-positive status. Soon after the launch, the helpline was flooded with as many as 3,800 calls. NACO officials expressed concern over the fact that more than 80% women and approximately 70% men in India do not have comprehensive knowledge about HIV/Aids.
"The helpline will be functional 24x7. The number is toll-free and provides services in eight languages (Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali and Gujarati)," said the official.
NACO has partnered with Piramal Swasthya, an arm of Piramal Group, to run the helpline. "We plan to use technology to give leverage to health care and scale up operations to up to 15 officially recognised languages in India. An investment of up to Rs1.5 crore has been made in the venture," said Dr Balaji Utla, head, Piramal Swasthya.
"Up to 21 people trained in psychology and counselling will handle calls 24x7 in three call centres in Hyderabad, Assam and Rajasthan. They will cater to calls coming from all over the country. The calls will be routed to the call centre concerned from a centralised facility after the caller selects the preferred language."
Dial for help
1097 — a centralised toll-free helpline for HIV/Aids was launched by NACO on December 1, 2014 (World Aids Day).
It is a 24x7 toll-free helpline, which can be called via a landline or mobile phone.
Counsellors will cater to curious callers as well as provide counselling and guidance to those infected by HIV.
The languages in which services will be provided are Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali and Gujarati.
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