An abstract which could not find a place in Toranto AIDS Conf.

[Guest guest]

Title: Hunger-HIV cycle and human approach to AIDS prevention

Issue: HIV has categorically targeted the vital source of human existence –

food.

Description: Food insecurity, most of the time is man made and inevitably leads

to disruption of human integrity thus generating numerous marginalized,

hard-to-reach population allover the world, left with hunger and humiliation.

Never-ending war of Congo, political violence of Haiti, socio-political

instability in Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, civil conflict of Colombia, war that

devastated health system of Ivory coast, restless Chechnya, war that tore apart

Iraq and Afghanistan, power game and proxy war by the ‘World Powers’ – the list

is long but number of people denied access to food through these pathological

processes is countless. The human community is further fragmented by social and

domestic violence, terrorism, communalism, racism, castism, gender inequity and

troubled childhood thus enhancing pace of hunger. Hunger is the natural

triggering mechanism of dehumanizing events like human trafficking,

prostitution, crime, drugs, child labor and migration pushing millions of

hopeless people into vacuum of AIDS. On the other hand, those already infected

by HIV are constantly refrained from producing and utilizing food, being

victimized by disability, denial and discrimination. And the cycle goes on

incessantly to make the virus stronger and deadlier.

Lessons learnt: This is Hunger-HIV cycle gradually taking shape of ultimate

destroyer and silently preparing ground to make final assault in the form of

AIDS. No other disease has taken so much of resources, attention and concern

because AIDS has jolted the root of humanity and exposed the darker side of

human civilization. Hungry, vulnerable people also remain miles away from

critical information vital for living. HIV can be easily renamed as ‘Hunger and

Ignorance led Vulnerability’.

Recommendation: Stop AIDS with ‘AIDS’ (Access to food, Integrated Approach of

health & education, Devoted leadership, Solidarity) because the linchpin of

success banks on lifting the face of humanity.

Dr Sugata Mukhopadhyay

B 7/33 Safdarjung Enclave Extension

New Delhi - 110029

Email: sugata64@..., sugataids@...

Tel: 91-098713 77783