The consequence of the message: HIV as an untreatable disease !

[Guest guest]

The following letter was received from the Physician responsible for AIDS

Management, Pathinamthitta District, Kerala State.

This letter intends to suggest an attitudinal change that should happen among

the public health administrators, and other health care professionals and media

regarding the management of AIDS problem. Let me bring to your attention the

last issue of Nammude Arogyam " (Our Health) in which an article published by

State AIDS control society has published for the interest of public.

That article emphasise the view that HIV DISEASE IS UNTREATABLE . The fact that

HIV disease can be effectively controlled and chains of transmission can be

successfully broken is proved by international experiece by Highly active

antiretroviral drugs.(HAART) One of the editorial of Mathrubhumi (the leading

Malayalam daily) also stressed that AIDS IS INCURABLE

The Response of media on AIDS is to exeptionalise, sensationalise AIDS and

terrorise people. The exceptionalisers evoke much sociopolitical concerns ,

globally as well as locally, international issues of national securities,

funds Flow and inapproprite rationing and ratioing of pririties. After the

advent of HAART regimens, the approach towards AIDS must favour considering

the illness like any the communicable disease where early detection and

treatment must be the rule.

The NO -DRUG campaigning still cherished by medical officialdom Is not due to

lack of funding Funds are disproportionately channeled to IEC hoarding and such

like that The care and support component is neglected The no- cure propaganda

creates much of the social stigmatisation and terror.

People hide their illness, transmits inadvertently, come very late to hospital

facility, to die after few days. They hold that if informations regarding

effective remedies are disseminated in general population , people will become

more unhygienic in sexual behaviors. Compouding to the burden of illness.

THEY justify erring on a little terror in public health messaging. But right to

information regarding successful scientific discoveries and availing the

benefits with full freedom of choice is the right of every person living with

AIDS VOLUNTARY HIV testing centers and care and support networks must be

established with free access to drugs Strict monitoring and surveillance

regarding adherence, through mechanisms such as DOT as followed in RNTCP is

the most acceptable.

Drug prices are coming down. Per day cost of anti retroviral could be less than

Rs 60/- with Zidovudine -stavudine-nevirapine combination. The disease can be

effectively controlled bringing back persons to productive lives Early detection

and adherence to therapies as per current treatment guidelines offer quality

life to persons affected The AIDS control program must undergo a paradigm shift

in its approach towards AIDS after the advent of HAART

There is no relevance for he NO-DRUG CAMPAING Medical practitioners must be more

capacitated to manage HIV disease by regular updating HIV disease is similar

like any chronic illness that is INCURABLE BUT CONTROLLABLE like, many types of

neuroendocrine disorders and neoplasm.

Let the message be, 'AIDS is a manageable illness'

Let people recognise their illness earlier DON'T DENY PEOPLE, ACCESS TO DRUGS

WHICH ARE EVIDENCE BASED

UMESH

DISTRICT PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBLE FOR AIDS MANAGEMENT

PATHANANMTHITTA

C/o " Dr. E. M. Rafique " <emrafi@...>

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