Response to article of 22nd July in Indian Express

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

Reading the article in the Indian Express of 22nd July it feels like another

setback for the tireless efforts we have to put in to achieve results. Instead

of the press being a strong ally and reporting responsibly, we have people

grinding their own axes.

Although I agree with the author that there is no room for fear psychosis, it

ends there. My main reason for agreement is that the community cannot run away

from caring for their own with little or no chance of care related infection.

Even in areas of high literacy does the author know that there is a big

difference between knowledge and behaviour change? Although there are possibly

some opportunistic NGOs, does that mean that it can be generalised? Isn't this

true for any sector in our country? Bad reporting does more in wastage of public

money than maybe a couple of NGOs without a vision.

Calling the AIDS situation a problem of the West is the height of denial and is

an indicator of the harm done by educated sections of society. This is precisely

what some politicians want to hear and can only take us closer to Africa.

Some of the things that reporters can do are:

1) Expose those NGOs who have nothing to show for the funds they receive.

2) Publicise the work that is effective and successful

3) Pressureise the Govt. to come up with time bound plans and follow them.

4) Build support for PLWAs in the community with case studies that promote the

same.

5) Remind people against complacency in translating knowledge to behaviour

change.

6) Expose people advertising for false cures without proper trials or data to

back them.

Thank you.

Eldred Tellis

E-mail: <sankalpt@...>