Re: AIDS campaign not to be condom-centric: Health Minister Sushma Swaraj

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

'This is in response to the news item " AIDS campaign not to be condom-

centric " by the Newly appointed Health Minister Sushma Swaraj'

Despite all efforts to orient the polity to HIV/AIDS, denial of high

frequency of unsafe sex as the major factor leading to high rates of

HIV infection in our masses seems to continue as a strong barrier to

interventions. I, however, respect our new Minister's intelligence and

concern for the health of the population, and am sure that if

adequately oriented, she will understand the true nature of HIV

transmission and that, condoms are the only major measure for

preventing the rapid spread of infection.

In the process of reducing costs of drugs to reach the common man,

she should consider including ART.

Vimla

E-mail: vimla@...

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I feel that even if unsafe sex is NOT the only way of

transmission of the disease, it is certainly one of

them.

On the other hand it would not be always possible for

all the players to address every relates issue in

every single campaign they launch to check the spread

of the disease. So if the producers of Condom are

saying that their product checks the spread, what is

wrong?

For addressing malnutrition among infants, some

projects focus their activities and messages only on

proper diet of pregnant mothers (to avoid LBW baby),

some on Breast feeding and some on appropriate weaning

practices, but certainly all of them are addressing

one issue that is malnutrition among infants.

Manish Mathur

Project Coordinator

Child Survival and Disease Project ,Gujrat Earthquake Recovery Initiative

Bhuj

E-mail: <mmathur_in@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

With heterosexual transmission being the main mode of transmission (84%

currently in India, see (http://www.naco.nic.in/indianscene/overv.htm) and in

the lack of availability of ART to most people, prevention is the key to control

HIV infections in India. And what are the means for prevention at our disposal?

Of course we have to educate people. And what do we educate people with? This

forum is educated enough for me not to have to underline the obvious, that the

most important thing we can communicate to young people in schools/young adults

and older people alike is the importance of safe sex and using condoms.

We cannot reverse the trend that young people are increasingly experimenting

with extramarital sex. But we have to work through the social changes to

encourage precaution and safe sex. The way forward then would be to openly and

publicly discuss such issues and alleivate the stigma associated with them.

The importance of political commitment to tackle AIDS has been reinforced often

enough. Hence it is encouraging to see the courage of politicians like Mr.

Chandrababu Naidu who take proactive steps like publicly advertising condoms.

We further hope that the new health minister Mrs Swaraj too would soon be

adequately oriented and show sincere commitment, as she has in her earlier

public duties, to controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS in India.

Ruth Kattumuri,

London School of Economic

E-mail: <r_katts@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

In reference to a posting by Ms Kattumuri, I agree on the importance of

education, especially on matters related to human sexuality. However, I

think we need to note that we need to talk about 'safer sex', not 'safe

sex'. Or perhaps we should introduce the term risk reduction also when

talking about sex? A person using condoms correctly 50% of the time s/he

has sex has reduced the risk of transmission, perhaps not with 50% but a

risk reduction has taken place.

In any case, let us not fool people, there is no such a thing as 'safe

sex', but there is such a thing as 'safer sex'.

All the best

C. Almedal

E-mail: <almedalc@...>