On World AIDS Day, L&T opens new ART centre

Diversified conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today opened a state-of-the-art anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre for treatment of HIV/AIDS patients here.
The inauguration of the facility at Kol Dongri in suburban Andheri coincided with the World AIDS Day. The project is part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.
The centre, owned by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), has been built by L&T, which will also operate it. This initiative is in partnership with Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS), a release said here.
The previous ART facility operating from the L&T-run Andheri Health Centre on Suren Road was started by A M Naik, Executive Chairman of the company, with support from Union Health Ministry, it said.

Since its inception in August 2009, over 1150 HIV/ AIDS cases were registered at the centre. Of these, 913 patients were administered the anti-retroviral therapy.
Increasing number of patients propelled L&T to build the new centre which is designed to accommodate up to 2,000 HIV positive patients - a 100 per cent increase from capacity at the old facility, the release said.
HIV/AIDS positive patients can undergo the entire range of pathology tests for their treatment at the centre and also receive free receive medical consultation.