Is HIV end of life? Ask Abraham

[Guest guest]

Is HIV end of life? Ask Abraham

By P C Vinoj Kumar in Chennai

Abraham, an ex-Army officer, is the president of Indian Network for

People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+) and is one among the estimated 3.7

million AIDS patients 'out of which 1.6 million are said to be

children' living in the country in isolation, thanks to the stigma

associated with AIDS.

INP was formed in 1997 by 12 persons with the objective of bringing

together persons living with HIV in India and nurture bonds of

friendship and solidarity among them.

The organisation has a membership of over thousand people spread over

15 States.

INP has many objectives. Among other things, it is lobbying

for " Governmental commitment and legislation to protect the basic

human rights and needs of people living with HIV, including

confidentiality, the right to travel, remain employed, marry and have

children, access medical care, education and shelter and remain

eligible for insurance cover. "

It has also taken upon itself " to advocate for the full participation

of persons living with HIV on local, national and international

decision making bodies that deal with issues affecting people living

with HIV. "

INP+ president Abraham, who had met Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in

New Delhi during the latter's recent visit to India, opened up to

share with Sify.com of how it feels to live with HIV in India.

" I represent the four million people living with HIV in India, I

repeat - I represent four million people living with HIV in India. As

a president of a network of people living with HIV and living with

the virus for the past 10 years, I fully understand why I am here

today. I know the important role people living with HIV have in

controlling the epidemic.

" Without us there is no prevention, without us there is no

visibility, without us there is no education, without us there is no

behaviour change.

" My organisation was formed in 1997 as the response of people living

with HIV to this epidemic. We have nine state-level networks

including one Positive Women's Network. Our membership is from 15

states in India. Today I am here to remind you that we are losing

friends to HIV than before, because prevention efforts are not

supported with care for people living with HIV.

" Because the public sees us as people who are dying, billboards tell

us that HIV is equal to death, messages issued by both Government and

private sector tells us that we deserve to die.

" But I am here to tell you that we are living. HIV does not mean that

is the end of life. There is more to life even after HIV infection.

Believe me when I say life has become very precious to me than ever.

" HIV infection is a manageable infection if we have access to drugs.

I have heard many a time that India has a leading role in supplying

generic drugs at a low cost to other countries. Ironically, in India

out of the four million people only a negligible number are on

antiretroviral drugs.

" I have strategies that can help control the epidemic in the country.

The key in our strategy is treatment for people living with HIV. When

treatment is available people enjoy good health. Then there will be

hope in prevention programme.

" When there is hope people will volunteer to get tested. Then

prevention will work. I appeal to every one of you to make HIV/AIDS

as our national priority before the menace hits every home in our

country. "

http://headlines.sify.com/1445news5.html?headline=Is~HIV~end~of~life?

~Ask~Abraham

____________________________