20th Commemoration of AIDS in the World, 15th Commemoration of Apathy in India

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20th Commemoration of AIDS in the World, 15th Commemoration of Apathy

in India:

People's Health Organisation (India) and other AIDS Organizations

across the globe will mark 20 years of AIDS. It was June 5, 1981 when

the Centers for Disease Control, USA released their first report by

Dr.MS Gottlieb and others about outbreaks of 'pneumocystis carinii

pneumonia' (PCP) infection in homosexual men in Los Angeles, the first

sign of what we now know as the AIDS pandemic. In India alone,10-12

million people are infected with HIV, though the National AIDS

Control Organisation (NACO) is hovering around a magic figure of 3.5

million for the last 5 years. Worldwide, 36 millions are estimated

to be HIV-infected and 21 millions have already died of AIDS, Africa

being the worst hit.

In past 20 years, what we have done in India is just switched off

the lights to see how dark it is!

We spent first 5 years in curiously watching the epidemic grow

elsewhere, having a 'Thank God, we are safe' attitude and describing

ourselves as the most cultured civilisation that would keep us

untouched.

But unfortunately, in May 1986 the first indication of HIV infection

was found in sex workers of Chennai and on 10th June, 1986 India

claimed its first death due to AIDS in Mumbai; blaming the Sri

Lankan soldiers and blood transfusion from USA respectively for

the same. When the HIV infection was seen in growing numbers,

the blame shifted to Sex Workers for spreading HIV to rest of

the community. Next 5 years were spent in helplessly watching

the epidemic grow and enter our homes and moreover suppressing

any voice raised or initiative taken to contain the problem.

NACO came into being in August 1992, when the World Bank offered

84.5 million US$ loan, however it was greeted with lackluster

response from the states making the program a great failure at

the end of its first five-year phase; which was extended by two

years. It covered awareness, blood safety and training of human

resource, but lacked intervention, counseling and care of people

with HIV.

From 1999, the second five year phase of the World Bank assisted

project with 300 million US$ loan started and the components of

targeted intervention, counseling and HIV testing are added but

care of people with HIV was kept out. Nothing much has been

achieved and the NACO seem to be utterly confused - both on the

HIV/AIDS figures and achievements of its programs. The Government

officials; which endorsed UNAIDS statements and estimates for

India all along are in logger-heads with it now.

The nation is still grappling with statistics, suppressing

the facts and ignoring sufferings of millions. We neither have

a cure for HIV/AIDS, nor vaccines to prevent new infections.

The hard work of many dedicated research institutions and

individuals has been able to make great strides in developing

new medications, devising prevention strategies, but we have

yet to provide needed care and services for people with

HIV/AIDS in India. Ironically, medicines produced in India

have been soothing people elsewhere, but our government is

still adamant, unwilling to subsidise them for the infected

poor, moreover even earning revenue on sale of these

medicines through excise, sales tax and octroi duty.

Isn't 20 years of AIDS, 20 years of suffering and 20 years

of dying enough? We can't afford to wait further to decide

our action plan. We lost enough time and nearly 2 million

people in denial, blaming others and apathy making it a

'Man-made, socially neglected and government-sponsored

calamity'.

In 20 years, AIDS has changed the face of India in the

world, being transformed into 'Second to one in Population

and second to none in HIV' with 'a Decade of Apathy in

Two Decades of AIDS'. We can use this milestone to

once again bring attention to devastating impact of

HIV/AIDS.

We can use this day to acknowledge all those who have

passed from AIDS and to recommit ourselves to bringing

this global pandemic under control. It's time to wage

a nationwide war using time-tested strategies against

this devastating epidemic, before it wipes out the

future of India!

Dr.I.S.Gilada,

Secretary General, PHO

E-mail: <ihoaids@...>