Goa: What is happenings are appaling! What is NACO doing??

[Guest guest]

Hi everybody,

I have been following what has been happening in Goa Legislative assembly with

increasing dread. Has NACO taken any initiative to educate the members of the

consent and confidentiality issues involved in testing and the problems of

mandatory testing under any circumstance. More importantly has NACO, or the

state AIDS cell taken any initiative to enlighten the rather misinformed members

about the latest status of AIDS Vaccinations. We seem to have the real threat of

making Goa the gunea pig state for international vacination trials with the

active but foolish collusion of the people's representatives themselves.

Given their zest to be seen to be doing something, as also their record of the

past [ref: lucy D'souza case], I am afraid the respected legistlators may land

us with another misguided and misinformed initiative like the Supreme Court

judgement suspending the rights of HIV Positive people to marry. All their talk

reeks of bad science and of an utter lack of understanding of the human rights

perspective involved. I hope NACO acts now when there is time rather than try

damage control later. That way maybe NACO can avoid being targeted again with

criticism of the kind thay were subjected to in Melbourne with regards to the

Lucknow case.

Extremely worriedly yours

Aditya Bondyopadhyay

e-Mail: <adit_bond@...>

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