AIDS Prevention for Indian armed forces

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Dear Forum members,

[The following statemnet " Pregnant women, if found to be infected by their

spouses, are administered with limobledin, which minimises the chances of

transmitting the infection to the new-born " is interesting. Moderator]

Prevention better than cure for the armed forces

Friday November 30, 2001

PUNE: Are you interested in joining the country's defence forces?

Then get an Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) test done at the

earliest or face the consequences of being thrown out from the services, if

later caught to be harbouring the killer virus and consequently declared

medically unfit.

To make a beginning, this message is being clearly spelled out to

all personnel of the armed forces. And the reason given by Lt. Gen.

M.A. Tutakne, commandant, Armed Forces Medical College, is the alarming

increase in the number of human immuno virus (HIV) cases across the

country.

" A person is taken in the defence forces to save the nation. And if that person

is found incapable of delivering the goods, there is no reason why he should be

allowed to hang on, " the commandant reasoned, adding, " We don't want to take

any chances. "

Admitting that the number of HIV cases detected within the defence forces have

increased in recent years, Lt. Gen. Tutakne said that a specialised health

education programme has been recently inducted in the course curriculum of the

cadres at all levels. " I cannot reveal the figures as it will not only send out

the wrong message but it will also violate the supreme court order in this

regard, " he added.

Lt. Gen. Tutakne said a separate AIDS control organisation has been set up in

the AFMC. The unit works in collaboration with the National Aids Control

Organisation (NACO). " These two organisations are working in tandem on issues

related to HIV cases in the defence forces, " he said, adding that NACO is also

providing funds to fight the disease.

The commandant, however, favoured a proper AIDS screening mechanism

at the beginning of the training. " Maybe the situation is still considered to be

not so alarming as to make it mandatory for such a test, " he said, adding that

there were also the human rights violations to think of.

Speaking on the steps taken by the AFMC in this regard, he said

cadets found to be carrying the virus are made to undergo a post-exposure

prophylyxis. This is the stage when medicines fail to react and the affected

persons are asked to take personal preventive measures. Pregnant women, if

found to be infected by their spouses, are administered with limobledin, which

minimises the chances of transmitting the infection to the new-born.

To spread awareness about AIDS and observe World AIDS Day on December 1, the

AFMC has planned a motorcycle rally and an exhibition on the campus.

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> & art_id=953156679 & sType=1>

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