NGOs challenge UNAIDS India AIDS estimates

January 19, 2002

NGOs punch holes into UN agency's AIDS estimates

The Indian Express 19th January, 2002-New Delhi

A Group of NGOs and independent activists today claimed that the India figures

of HIV/AIDS cases put out by UNAIDS, the United Nations' nodal agency for AIDS,

contain several contradictions, and " cover-ups "

" They have released the same 199 9 HIV/AIDS data on four different occasions,

and in their latest report, called the 2000 'Revised' update, all the data was

suddenly removed, " alleged Purushottaman of the NGO Joint Action Council Kannur

(JACK).

According to the epidemiological factsheet (India) of the UNAIDS' AIDS Epidemic

Update, which is brought out twice a year, there were 3.10 lakh AIDS deaths in

India in 1999. The same figure was quoted in the updates of June 2000, December

2000 and June 2001. All the data Are available on the UNAIDS website.

" On what ground have they removed the figures from the latest report? " asked

Purushottaman. A UNAIDS official said: " Our figures are accurate. " He refused to

comment on the alleged " disappearance " of the figures in the 'revised 2000

update.

The activists also questioned the use of the word " epidemic " which is used by

the international community to describe the AIDS situation in India. As per the

latest UNAIDS/NACO figures, there are 3.86 million people living with HIV/AIDS

in India.

" The actual incidence of HIV/AIDS is substantially lower than the projections

made by UNAIDS, " said Smitu Kothari of the NGO Likayan. According to UNAIDS

figures, the HIV prevalence rate in Manipur -- one of the country's earliest

entry points due to rampant intravenous drug use --- rose from " hardly

detectable " in 1988 to 71 per cent in four years. " Given that the period for HIV

to progress to AIDS has been fixed at 4-5 years for India, there should have

been visible signs of an epidemic in these areas, " said Purushottaman.

Since cost projections, as well as donations and international aid for HIV/AIDS

are derived from UNAIDS figures, Kothari Pointed out that incorrect figures may

result in gross overestimates of money needed for treatment and healthcare

costs.

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Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA) ( www.fxb.org )

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