Re: Manipur is now doomed. :Time Magazine

[Guest guest]

[This is in response to the Timor Magazine article " Manipur is now doomed. "

Moderator]

Not only Manipur, I would say now there are several Manipurs in the country.

Go to Nagaland. Almost same magnitude of the problem compounded by the

very underdeveloped nature of the health system; in the entire state there

is no tertiary health care set up, no cardiologist, the primary health

system is also way behind many states of the conutry.

Go to Andhra Pradesh. one of the most forward looking states in the

country. The latest is 11% ANM positive in Vijaywada district, the

highest ANM prevalence in the country, and ANM means general population

prevalence.

Rather I would say, Manipur is showing good results. The prevalence among

the IDUs has now come down significantlty by almost 20% (govt figures). I

think, the highest ANM prevalnece met in the state has not exceeded 3-4%.

Around 500 positives are on self supported ARV regimes. The state has good

human resource capacities in dealing with the epidemic. The stigma and

discrimination levels are far less then many other parts of the country.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Agarwal, MBBS, MD

Technical Advisor- HIV/AIDS

Catholic Relief Services

4/2 Orient Row, Kolkata - 700 017

India

Tel. No. 91-33-247 6433/1969

Fax No. 91-33-240 8652

E-mail : drashok@...

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