AIDS & Valentine Day

[Guest guest]

ON VALENTINE DAY KEEP HIV AT BAY!

At a 'Chat Show' in one of our AIDS awareness programmes, we were baffled with a

question- why do we celebrate Children Day on 14th November? The right answer in

that crowd was 'because it comes exactly 9 months after Valentine's day!' (not

due to Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday). Looking at the polarised views and turmoil

generated out of the Valentine's Day, we find the need to talk science-based

rationale or practical things. In the era of MTV and Cholie Movie we need to

have open channel of communication with our youth, who usually have an attitude

of rebellion, when you talk about 'our rich cultural heritage or orthodox

society'. If you wish them to refrain from certain things, they would tend to do

excesses.

The AIDS scenario has assumed dangerous proportions, affecting mainly youth,

however the nightmarish problem can be effectively countered by confronting the

reality on war-footing, using all possible avenues, including the mega-events

like the Valentine's Day. The denial of such a trend, complacency and inaction

has made India top the world in HIV/AIDS. PHO has coined a slogan: During

Valentine Celebration; Resist Temptation,To avoid HIV Infection!

After some awareness about the fallouts of Navaratri (disco-Dandiya), some

studies established that the rate of abortions were very high after the

festivity, attributing to heightened sexual promiscuity. In similar scientific

spirit, we must study the consequences of Valentine's Day. AIDS threat has done

a great job! The focus in casual sex has now shifted from sexual intercourse to

non-penetrative sex, mainly kissing. PHO hotline gets hundreds of calls to

inquire about what amounts to safer sex and is kissing safe to prevent HIV

transmission? Let us use occasions like Valentine's Day, Navaratri, Rose Day to

educate youth on how to observe or celebrate these occasions without getting

trapped into unhealthy consequences. You cannot prevent the celebrations like

these, but can certainly prevent HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies.

Even almighty god has created human being in such a way that sex organs are

positioned inferior to heart, but brain is positioned superior to it. The youth

needs to be impressed upon that - it is better to postpone choosing a Valentine

till academic/financial achievements are done and while choosing one, use brain

more than heart. Stability in relationship will not only benefit them, but also

will shape-up a better society with less of crimes and diseases.

PHO has initiated a program 'Healthy Youth, Healthy India' with the support of

Dept. of Youth Affairs, Govt. of Maharashtra, which aims at creating resistance

to save the youth from the clutches of Hazards of un-healthy sexuality, Tobacco,

Alcohol and other recreational drugs and to provide them education on HIV/AIDS

and Human sexuality; Importance of Exercises and Yoga; Constructive revolution;

Brain-storming for National Development; Role of Youth in crisis management etc.

Around 25% of India's population (250 million) is aged between 11 and 20. While

exploring sex, they not only face the risks of pregnancy & Sexually Transmitted

Diseases (STD) as did their parents, but also a new risk of current times-

'HIV/AIDS'. The need for educating Teens is enormous, as they are more likely to

experiment and take risks. It is easier to prevent the changing behavior pattern

than to modify after it becomes habit. Bureaucratic delay or double standards in

preventive efforts may prove detrimental, when youth are marrying later and

becoming sexually active earlier. Wide gap between puberty and marriage,

urbanization and lax sexual mores, it is more likely that unmarried teenagers

would be sexually active. Youth can contact PHO AIDSLine: 3719020 and Unison:

3061616 for guidance.

Dr.I.S.Gilada, secretary General, PHO

E-mail: <ihoaids@...>

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