Goa: “Intensive Voluntary Testing” campaign launched (2)

[Guest guest]

Weekender Magazine Goa, Sunday, December 1, 2002

Article published in Local news Paper in Goa

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Voluntary HIV test campaign begins.

“Choose not to loose your family, friends, future… get tested for HIV today’” is

the clarion call given by Health Secretary Rina Ray. Announcing the launch of

AIDS Fortnight from today till 15 December 2002, Ray urged people from all walks

of life to join in the queue at Goa Medical College Bambolim Complex at 11.30 am

today for a HIV test.

The campaign for voluntary testing of HIV will be set rolling by none other than

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has volunteered for the HIV test in a bid

to wipe out the stigma attached to it by society. Following his footsteps will

be Health Minister Dr. Suresh Amonkar and Ray who believes in practicing before

preaching.

Speaking to reporters yesterday at a press conference organized by Goa State

AIDS Control Society, she said that the government would waive the ‘contest of

parents’ requirements for minors who come forward for HIV testing during the

fortnight till 15 December. This she said is being done in order to get

youngsters to test for HIV. The results however will be delivered with great

care and caution, she added.

She also announced the commissioning of AIDS Help line 1097, setting up of 33

voluntary testing center, and STD treatment and counseling facilities for the

benefit of people in the state. A referendum in favour/against mandatory v/s

voluntary HIV testing can be sought from people, Ray stated. Dr. Suresh Amonkar

revealed that coastal talukas of the state are more prone to HIV infection.

The test is a full proof test and there is no scope for variation in

results of the test, said Dr. Suresh Amonkar. Replying to a question on accuracy

of the tests being conducted in GMC, he said confirmed results of the samples of

blood drawn are given only after the test is repeated twice if the first result

shows positive for HIV/AIDS.

FIGHT AIDS NOT PEOPLE.

Receiving a diagnosis of a life threatening illness like AIDS is devastating.

But the emotional, social and financial consequences of AIDS can make coping

with this illness even more difficult. So the least we can do, says Dr. Prakash

Shetye is give them our flinching support and make life bearable for them.

“Recently, I delivered my baby. Somehow the hospital patients cam to know that I

am HIV positive. They started blaming me for my illness. No one could come close

to my bed. I had to leave the hospital early…” Sandhya, HIV positive patient.

“I feared I may be evicted from the house by the owner. So I pleaded with the

doctor not to disclose my husband’s illness to anyone. He died of AIDS a few

months ago.” (Name has changed on request).

When the going gets tough….

Most people with AIDS prefer to suffer in silence for fear of being victimized.

Some like Jaffer Inamder have come out in the open in Goa to create awareness,

Hope that the public will understand what a sufferer has to undergo

Having disclosed my HIV status, I feel quite relieved. I work for the cause of

people who have HIV in Goa. My family members feel that I should not have

disclosed my HIV status. They feel stigmatized & Discriminated. But I want

people to understand and care for HIV positive people… after all they too have a

right to live – Jaffer Inamder, HIV positive patient.

These are the painful and bitter experiences faced everyday by millions of

people living with HIV/AIDS. In spite of twenty years of existence and vigorous

awareness campaigns, the spread of HIV continues unabated. Though people cam to

know about AIDS, the victims of this ailment and their close associates are

faced with prejudice, ostracism, stigma and discrimination.

Hence the focus for the World AIDS day campaign for this year is on eliminating

this stigma and discrimination and has the theme ‘Live and Let Live’.

AIDS is biological phenomena caused by a virus, but it is not merely a medical

issue, it has a huge psychological and social impact. Apart from the numerous

health diseases over the years, people also have to face stigmatization and

discrimination in all spheres of life.

Everyone at risk

Crossing its traditional barrier of high risk groups like sex workers, drug

addicts and gay men, the virus has infected many housewives, youths and infants,

both in urban and rural areas.

Why blame?

AIDS is linked to taboo behavior such as drug use, gay sex, sex outside marriage

and prostitution. People see it as shameful.

Some wrongly believe it to be a punishment for perverse and immoral behavior.

This leads to prejudice, stigma and discrimination. People fear it because in

spite of all the medical advances it is fatal due to the fact that there is no

effective cure. But what about those who contracted it from their spouses, and

innocent babies who acquired it from their mother?

Stigma and discrimination

Due to ignorance as well as fear of HIV, people infected with the AIDS virus

face discrimination by their caretakers, colleagues and even at health care

centers.

People fear that they might catch the virus. It is a well-known fact that HIV

spreads through unprotected sex, infected blood or needles and from infected

mother to her baby. It cannot spread through casual contact or by living with an

infected person.

Stigmatization can lead to problem for the people with HIV. A person who is HIV

positive may remain healthy and lead an active productive life for many years

provided he is accepted by family and society with love. He needs care and

emotional support. Discrimination even leads to eviction from home, loss of

employment, separation from a spouse; denial of basic rights like schooling,

health care, housing, employment etc.

AIDS has very badly affected children. It has major social implication in that

the majority of infants born to seropositive women will remain uninfected and

will be orphaned as their parents die of AIDS. It would be a huge emotional

burden for these children to have to grow up in an environment of stigma and

discrimination.

People are often blamed for the disease that they carry, but blaming people does

not help stop the disease from spreading. In fact, it usually causes the disease

to spread further because stigmatized groups tend to become more hidden and

opportunities to give them information and care are lost. They need emotional

support from their family members and colleagues. It is not always their fault

that they are infected. It can happen to anyone in today’s world.

Stop the discrimination.

HIV positive people can leave a productive life for several years if given

appropriate information treatment and support. Much work remains to be done to

change the hostile social climate that challenges those living with the virus.

Ignorance accentuates the discrimination. Information and awareness campaigns

should be directed towards to those are not easily accessible and yet

vulnerable. We have to fight fear with facts. More facilities for anonymous

testing and counseling should be created. Proper sexuality education should be

imparted to children and youth.

NGOs and community-based organization can help to dispel prejudices,

misconceptions and to take up human right issues on behalf of those who are

discriminated against. Effective care, counseling and support services should be

created to help affected people.

Health care workers should be sensitized and should be more aware of how to

respond to the disease. Mandatory tests testing without counseling should be

avoided.

Universal precautions should be taken to prevent the spread of this infection.

HIV positive victims should not be denied care on the basis of their HIV status.

Let us all work to create a climate of trust and friendship towards those who

are affected. Let’s stop discriminating against HIV positive people and help

them lead a more respectable and production life.

Thanking you

Your solidarity

Shakeel Shaikh

Programme Manager

FXB – India/Goa

C-1, 1st Floor, Cozy Apartments,

Menezes Braganza Road, Baina,

Vasco Da Gama, Goa – 403802

Tel: 91- 832- 2512959

Fax:91-832-2501495

Email: fxbgoa@...

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