AIDS Society of India honours physicians who diagnosed 1st AIDS case 20 years back

[Guest guest]

AIDS Society of India honours physicians who diagnosed 1st AIDS case 20 years

back:

Today the AIDS Society of India, the professional body of doctors involved in

HIV/AIDS care, honoured Padmabhusan Dr. R D Lele, Consutling Neurologist Dr.

Noshir Wadia and Consulting Heamatologist Dr. Sunil Parekh the team of three

physicians responsible for recording the first Indian AIDS case on 10th June

1986.

The AIDS chose the occasion to Commemorate of 20 years of Diagnosis of First

AIDS Case in India, 25 years of the onset of the AIDS

epidemic in the world and 10 years of invention of " Highly Active

Anti-Retroviral Treatment " (HAART), by organizing a seminar " Two Decades of HIV

Epidemic in India: What We Gained? What we Lose? " which was attended by several

prominent physicians from Mumbai.

Jaslok Hospital was chosen to conduct the program as the first AIDS patient

Beharilal Makhija died on 9th June 1986 died at Jaslok and the three-member team

of physicians declared the diagnosis of first AIDS case from Jaslok Hospital on

10th June 1986 through a letter to the State Government. Member of Parliament

and daughter of illustrious social reformer Late Mr. Sunil Dutt - Ms. Priya Dutt

Roncon was the chief guest and honoured the doctors.

She emphasized on the importance of young parliamentarians to make special

efforts to fight AIDS. She ensured that she will raise the issue at every

possible forum to save the youth from drugs, AIDS, alcohol.

Welcoming the dignitaries Director General of Jaslok Hospital Col. M Masand

highlighted importance of the seminar on completion of 20years of diagnosing 1st

AIDS case in India in the very same hospital and said the hospital has come a

long way in two decades and now has a dedicated HIV Clinic among other

facilities to provide care to HIV/AIDS patients.

ASI Secretary General and HIV specialist Dr. I. S. Gilada gave a theme talk on

20 years of AIDS in India: What we gained and what we lose? and emphasized the

importance of coming together to fight this deadly epidemic even if our views

are different. Highlighting the impact of HIV/AIDS including the lives lost due

to the epidemic and its nedico-socio-economic consequences, he narrated gains

made because of the AIDS epidemic- like safe sex, safe blood, safe pregnancy,

safe hospital/laboratory practices, safe barber

practices, poularisation of condoms, attention on miseries of sex workers and

other marginalized communities like Injection Drug Users, men having sex with

men (MSM), truckers etc. has been possible only because of presence of AIDS.

Renowned physician Padmabhushan Dr. F. E. Udwadia delivered a key note address,

in which he vividly gave the current global as well as national facts and

figures and on the available and affordable treatment avenues. While concluding

he mentioned that India manufactures the anti-HIV drugs to reach other countries

but ironically unable to reach the same to all those infected

with HIV, the major problem being most HIV-infected people do not know their HIV

status.

Responding to the honour, Dr. R. D. Lele mentioned that while declaring the 1st

case, he had to write to Health Dept. in Maharashtra Government that this AIDS

case was a case through blood transfusion and there was no need to panic, as was

evident from some of the juicy newspaper stories based on wrong information. He

also had to visit different hospitals to explain about the scientific facts of

the disease in order to remove stigma even within medical

professionals on this disease and towards the afflicted people. Dr. Mrs.Wadia

accepted the honour on behalf of Dr. N. H. Wadia, who was indisposed and

recalled how her husband suspected the patient for AIDS based on the brain

ailment. Dr. Sunil Parekh highlighted hat it was a team work which helped us in

diagnosing the case, giving credits to his teachers who taught clinical

management.

A senior physician Dr.G.S.Sainani speaking about the Impact of AIDS on Medicine,

said during his student days 50 years back, it was important that they should

know Tuberculosis, Syphilis and Cancer. Now if you don't know AIDS, you don't

know Medicine.

....................................................................

Dr. I S Gilada,

Hon. Secretary, AIDS Society of India &

Peoples Health Organisation (India)

Tel. 9820081566/ 23061616;

E-mail: gilada@...