India to Bar Foreigners With HIV From Entering Country

[Guest guest]

India to Bar Foreigners With HIV From Entering Country

Indian officials will begin barring individuals with HIV from

entering the country within the next few months, according to Health

and Family Welfare Minister C.P. Thakur, the South China Morning

Post reports.

Upon entering India, visitors will have to produce medical records

stating that they are not infected with the virus. If they are

HIV-positive, they will not be allowed to travel in the country,

Thakur said, citing as the basis for the new policy a recent report

that found that " contacts with foreigners are responsible for the

sharp rise in HIV cases " in India.

He noted that North Korea tests citizens for HIV before and after

traveling abroad. The policy does not have to go to Parliament, as

the Health Ministry has the authority to pass rules after ministerial

consultation. Thakur said that HIV/AIDS is the " most serious health

problem in India, " with nearly four million HIV cases reported and

another 23 infections estimated to occur every minute. Experts warn

that without an AIDS vaccine, the progression of HIV/AIDS will only

worsen because AIDS drugs are too expensive for most Indians.

In addition, the high prevalence of tuberculosis -- India accounts

for about 25% of the world's TB cases -- complicates efforts to

battle HIV/AIDS because both diseases are known to " spee[d] up the

progress of the other. " TB is responsible for about one-third of

AIDS-related deaths worldwide and 40% of all deaths in Asia (Abdi,

South China Morning Post, 3/13).

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Cross posted from: the Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report:

www.kaisernetwork.org/email

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[Guest guest]

Hello friend,

I am surprised to know that India will bar foreigners with HIV. Because,

just the other day TOI published a news item informing that HIV test for the

foreigners will no longer be required.

Arati Samajpati

Director Parivartan

E-mail: <parivartan@...>

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[Guest guest]

What is going to happen when there are international conferences or other

meets in India to bring people living with HIV/AIDS together?

More over is this not a violation of human rights assuming that all PHAs

spread HIV around in an irresponsible way?

Just a thought.

Dr. S. Chatterjee

E-mail: subidita@...

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[Guest guest]

Dear forum members,

I have experience of managing more than 45,000 HIV +ve individuals since

1986, being based in Bombay. I was responsible for the discovery of HIV-2

infection in India as well as detection of predominance of subtype C for

HIV-1 infected individuals in India.

I do not think barring Foreigners With HIV From Entering India is the solution

to control rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in India. I estimate more than 10 million

people already having been infected with HIV/AIDS by the end of year 2000 with

no discrimination to caste, religion, socio-economic status, educational status

or urban /rural origin. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is fully matured as evidenced by ;

many new cases detected HIV +ve below age of 22 years & above age of 55 years,

emergence of PCP epidemic in area wherein TB is endemic (i.e. India),

emergence of new cases of HIV related cancers etc.

I think political commitment & united fight is the only solution to check

HIV/AIDS epidemic in India. Compulsary pre marital testing, periodical

screening of defence personels for HIV /AIDS, persistence of discrimination

at the level of health care provision, lack of subsidiary for antiretroviral

therapy for HIV /AIDS individuals desiring for the same etc. are undesirable

facts.

There is urgent need for periodical epidemiological survey of HIV /

AIDS virology in India which will be helpful for both vaccine design &

antiretroviral drugs trial.

Dr. J.K.Maniar,MD

Consulting AIDS Physician,

Bombay

E-mail: <jkmaniar@...>

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[Guest guest]

I am wondering if this move will do any good. Even if we bar foreigners with HIV

from entering India, the fact is that we already have the virus here among our

own citizens. With a population of 1 Billion and more in India, I think more

emphasis has to be given towards control of spread HIV, Behavioral Change among

our fellow citizens and good health care management. Whats the final catch, if

we dont control the ever rising spread of HIV within India and gaurd ourselves

in the periphery againsts Foreigners with HIV.

The need of the hour is to control the spread among ourselves. If that is done,

I am sure rest of the world can learn from our mode of combating the spread of

HIV in INDIA and do India proud. Also wondering if data of the report that was

being prepared and presented to the Hon'ble Minister gathered from a specific

area or location of the country.

If Gandhiji was the Health Minister today will he do this?? just wondering..

where we are headed in this New Millineium...

O. Lall

El Shaddai Resource Centre

E-mail: <jol@...>

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